Sapelli

About the species: Sapelli

Sapelli is a commercially important African hardwood with a warm reddish-brown heartwood and a characteristic ribbon figure on quartersawn surfaces. It works well across furniture, joinery and veneer.

Grade and grain orientation are agreed per order; mixed-width packs are available for production-focused buyers. We can also discuss sliced veneer flitches where volume allows.

Typical applications

• Furniture
• Veneer and panels
• Interior joinery
• Boat building
• Mouldings

Working and finishing

Sapelli machines and finishes readily; interlocked grain may tear if cutters are dull. Ribbon figure is best revealed by careful quartersawing.

Specification

Grain	Interlocked; ribbon figure on quartersawn
Colour	Reddish brown to golden brown
Density	550–700 kg/m³ (air-dry)
Formats	Sawn timber · KD boards · veneer flitches
Grades	FAS/Select · No.1 Common
Moisture	8–12% KD
Durability	Moderate to high
Origin	Angola — licensed supply
Export packing	Export bundles, strapped and wrapped; container or breakbulk.

Export packing and logistics

Material is packed in strapped export bundles with protective edges and shipment marking. Container loading, breakbulk preparation and mixed-width packs are planned per order.

Compliance and documentation

Origin, harvest and phytosanitary documentation accompanies the shipment. Permit-controlled species require valid CITES documentation. Final grade, dimensions and moisture are confirmed in the sales contract.