Teak
Teak is the timber of Tectona grandis, a large deciduous hardwood native to south and southeast Asia and now planted widely across the tropics. It is the reference timber for marine and outdoor use because the heartwood contains natural oils and extractives that make it resistant to rot, to marine borers and to insect attack without any preservative treatment, and because it is dimensionally stable in wet and dry cycling and does not corrode the steel fastenings driven into it. It is used for yacht decking and joinery, exterior joinery and cladding, garden and contract furniture, high value interior joinery and veneer. The trade divides between old natural forest teak, mainly from Myanmar, and plantation teak from Indonesia, India, Latin America and Africa, which grows faster, is lighter in colour and carries a wider band of sapwood.
Listed teak markets
Each line is a grade at a delivery point. Open one for its full specification and terms.
Grades
Teak is bought on origin, on the heartwood fraction and on grain and colour, because those set both the durability and the value of the piece. Every parameter names how it is measured. The legality position is settled before any other question on this commodity, since teak is subject to origin specific import restrictions and to due diligence requirements in the principal consuming markets.
Species, form and identification
8 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| SpeciesTectona grandis, verified by wood anatomy where the contract requires it | Several timbers are marketed under teak trade names without being Tectona grandis. The botanical name is contracted and, where value justifies it, verified by anatomy. |
| Source typeDeclared, as natural forest, or plantation, with the country and the planting record named | Natural forest and plantation teak differ in density, in colour and in heartwood proportion, and they carry different legality treatment. They are never blended in a sale. |
| Age at fellingDeclared in years, from the plantation record | Recorded for plantation material because it governs the heartwood diameter, and therefore how much of the log is usable as durable timber. |
| FormDeclared, as log, square, sawn timber, decking, component, or veneer | Each form carries its own measurement convention and its own grading treatment. |
| Sawing patternDeclared, as plain sawn, quarter sawn, or rift sawn | Quarter sawn teak is the marine decking material because it wears evenly and moves least across the width, so the pattern is contracted rather than assumed. |
| Drying methodDeclared, as air dried, kiln dried to a stated schedule, or a combination | Stated with the final target moisture content, since teak destined for interior joinery and exterior decking is dried to different targets. |
| Surface conditionDeclared, as rough sawn, planed on stated faces, or machined to a named profile | Decking is contracted to a profile drawing rather than to a description. |
| TreatmentDeclared, as untreated, or treated with any oil, sealer or end coating | Teak heartwood is used untreated. Any applied coating, including end sealing against checking, is declared because it affects gluing and finishing at destination. |
Grading and appearance
10 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Heartwood proportionMeasured as the percentage of the cross section, or the face area, that is heartwood | The single most important measurement in teak. Only the heartwood carries the natural durability, so the sapwood boundary is measured on the piece rather than described. |
| Sapwood widthMeasured with a rule on the face and on the end of the piece | Recorded in millimetres against a stated maximum, and separately for each face where the contract requires clear heartwood on one side. |
| Grading rule appliedDeclared, naming the grading rule the parcel is graded against and the face graded | Teak is graded to national rules, to buyer rules and to marine trade rules, and these are not the same. The rule is named. |
| KnotsMeasured as the diameter, the soundness and the position of each knot on the graded face | Recorded against a stated maximum. Marine decking is contracted knot free on the wearing face. |
| Grain straightnessAssessed along the length of the piece by following the grain from end to end | Recorded as the deviation over the length. Straight grain is required for decking, since sloping grain lifts and splinters in service. |
| Grain figureAssessed visually on the face and recorded descriptively against a retained sample | Straight, wavy and figured material are separated. Recorded against a retained reference rather than a named figure alone. |
| ColourAssessed visually on a freshly machined face under daylight against a retained sample | Teak darkens on exposure and lightens with weathering, so colour is assessed on a freshly machined face and matched to a retained sample. |
| Splits, checks and shakesMeasured as the length and the depth of each defect, on the face and on the ends | Recorded against a stated maximum. Ring shake is recorded separately because it can run the length of the piece. |
| Insect and fungal damageCounted as the number of holes and assessed as the affected area | Heartwood is naturally resistant, so damage is normally confined to the sapwood band and is recorded with the sapwood measurement. |
| WarpMeasured as bow, spring, twist and cup with a gauge and a straight edge over the stated length | Each measured separately against its own tolerance at the declared moisture condition. |
Dimensions and measurement
8 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Log diameterMeasured over or under bark at the mid point, or at both ends, as the contract states | Recorded in centimetres with the measurement point named, because a log tapers and the convention changes the volume. |
| Log lengthMeasured along the log with a tape, with the trim allowance stated | Recorded in metres with the rounding convention named. |
| Log volumeCalculated by the volume rule named in the contract, from the measured diameter and length | Named explicitly, since different volume rules applied to the same log give different answers. |
| Sawn thicknessMeasured with a calliper at several points along the piece | Recorded in millimetres at the stated moisture condition, with separate tolerances for rough and dressed material. |
| Sawn width and lengthMeasured with a calliper and a tape | Recorded with the tolerance and with whether the dimension is nominal or minimum. |
| Decking profileMeasured against the profile drawing named in the contract | Width, thickness, the groove or seam detail and the radius are all measured against the drawing rather than against a description. |
| Quantity basisDeclared, as cubic metres, piece count, or square metres for decking and veneer | Stated explicitly with the measurement standard and the moisture condition. |
| Veneer measurementMeasured as thickness with a micrometer, and as area on the leaf | Recorded per leaf and per bundle, with the thickness tolerance stated. |
Physical and moisture condition
8 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Moisture contentDetermined by oven drying to constant mass, or by calibrated resistance meter at a stated depth | Reported as a percentage of the dry mass with the method named, and contracted to the target for the end use. |
| Moisture gradientDetermined by measuring at surface and core on a split sample | Recorded because teak dried too fast on the outside will move after machining at destination. |
| DensityDetermined by mass and volume measurement at the stated moisture condition | Reported with the moisture condition. Natural forest teak is typically denser than fast grown plantation material. |
| Extractive contentDetermined by solvent extraction of a representative sample where the contract requires it | The extractives are what give teak its durability, so they are measured where the buyer contracts on natural durability rather than on appearance. |
| Natural durabilityAssessed by the durability classification method named in the contract | Classified for the heartwood only, with the classification standard named, because the sapwood is not durable. |
| Dimensional movementDetermined by the shrinkage test method named in the contract | Measured radially and tangentially, since the ratio between the two governs how the piece behaves in a wet and dry cycle. |
| Surface oil and adhesionAssessed by the adhesion or wettability test named in the contract | Teak oils interfere with gluing and coating, so where the material is to be glued the surface preparation and the test are specified. |
| Foreign matter and metalInspected visually and by metal detection where the contract requires it | Nails, wire and embedded shot occur in older material and damage machinery, so the parcel is screened before delivery. |
Legality, certification and phytosanitary status
9 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Origin declarationDeclared as the country of harvest and, where required, the geolocation of the harvest area | The first question asked on teak. Declared from the origin record rather than from the shipping documents. |
| Sanctions and import restriction screeningScreened against the restrictions applying in the destination to teak of the declared origin | Teak of certain origins is restricted or prohibited in several major markets. The position is confirmed in writing before any cargo commits. |
| Harvest and transport permitsIssued under the forestry law of the country of origin | The permit chain from the standing tree to the export point, assembled at origin because it cannot be reconstructed later. |
| Due diligence documentationPrepared to the requirements of the destination market | Where the destination requires a due diligence statement, risk assessment and mitigation record, that file is assembled before shipment. |
| Import declarationFiled as the destination requires for plant material | Species and country of harvest are declared on import in several major markets, supported by the origin documentation. |
| CertificationDeclared, as the forest management or chain of custody scheme, the certificate number and the claim made | Certified plantation teak is traded in volume, and the certificate scope is checked against the actual plantation and the actual species. |
| Phytosanitary certificateIssued by the national plant protection organisation of the exporting country | Required by most destinations for logs and sawn timber, with any treatment named. |
| Wood packagingISPM 15 treatment of any wood packaging material used | Applies to the crates, pallets and dunnage independently of the cargo. |
| Tariff classificationHarmonized System classification agreed before shipment | Logs, sawn timber, decking, components and veneer classify separately, and the classification is agreed in advance. |
Inspection, documentation and settlement
9 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| InspectionBy an independent inspection company, or by a buyer appointed grader, named in the contract | Grading, tally, measurement and condition checked at loading or at discharge as agreed, with a report and photographs issued to both parties. |
| TallyPiece by piece or by parcel, as the contract states | The count and measurement record that the invoice is built from, signed by both parties or by the appointed inspector. |
| Measurement basisDeclared, as the standard and the moisture condition the volume is calculated at | Named explicitly, because volume in this trade depends on the rule applied and on whether the material is green or dried. |
| Grading disputeResolved by a reinspection under the named rule, by an agreed independent grader | The reinspection procedure, the time limit for claiming and who bears the cost are all written in. |
| Phytosanitary certificationIssued by the plant protection organisation of the exporting country | Names the treatment applied and travels with the cargo. Required by most destinations for wood and wood products. |
| Legality documentationHarvest permit chain, transport permits, export permit and the due diligence statement where required | The document set that proves lawful origin, assembled before shipment because it cannot be reconstructed afterwards. |
| Certification and chain of custodyDeclared, as the scheme, the certificate number and the claim made | Where the material is sold as certified, the certificate scope must cover the actual species and the actual harvest area. |
| Payment termsDocumentary credit, cash against documents or open account, as agreed | Stated with the provisional and final invoice mechanism where the settlement depends on a tally or a grading at discharge. |
| Insurance and carriageDeclared, with the Incoterm and the insured value | The Incoterms rule named with the version year, and the party carrying the risk over each leg. |
Grades outside this list trade on request. Send us the contract specification you work to and we will price against it.
Locations
| Country | Region | We trade it as |
|---|---|---|
| Myanmar | Asia | Origin and destination |
| India | Asia | Origin and destination |
| Indonesia | Asia | Origin and destination |
| Laos | Asia | Origin and destination |
| Thailand | Asia | Origin and destination |
| Vietnam | Asia | Origin and destination |
| Malaysia | Asia | Origin and destination |
| Philippines | Asia | Origin and destination |
| Bangladesh | Asia | Origin and destination |
| Sri Lanka | Asia | Origin and destination |
| Ghana | Africa | Origin and destination |
| Cote d'Ivoire | Africa | Origin and destination |
| Nigeria | Africa | Origin and destination |
| Cameroon | Africa | Origin and destination |
| Tanzania | Africa | Origin and destination |
| Mozambique | Africa | Origin and destination |
| South Africa | Africa | Origin and destination |
| Brazil | South America | Origin and destination |
| Ecuador | South America | Origin and destination |
| Colombia | South America | Origin and destination |
| Mexico | North America | Origin and destination |
| Peru | South America | Origin and destination |
| Papua New Guinea | Oceania | Origin and destination |
| Solomon Islands | Oceania | Origin and destination |
| China | Asia | Origin and destination |
| Hong Kong | Asia | Trading hub |
| Taiwan | Asia | Origin and destination |
| Japan | Asia | Origin and destination |
| South Korea | Asia | Origin and destination |
| Singapore | Asia | Trading, finance and destination |
| United Arab Emirates | Middle East | Origin, destination and trading hub |
| United States | North America | Origin and destination |
| Canada | North America | Origin and destination |
| United Kingdom | Europe | Origin and destination |
| Netherlands | Europe | Origin, destination and trading hub |
| Belgium | Europe | Origin, destination and trading hub |
| Germany | Europe | Origin and destination |
| France | Europe | Origin and destination |
| Italy | Europe | Origin and destination |
| Spain | Europe | Origin and destination |
| Denmark | Europe | Origin and destination |
| Sweden | Europe | Origin and destination |
| Norway | Europe | Origin and destination |
| Poland | Europe | Origin and destination |
| Turkey | Europe and Middle East | Origin and destination |
| Australia | Oceania | Origin and destination |
| New Zealand | Oceania | Origin and destination |
Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown here.
Timing
Harvest is when the material is cut or stripped at origin, which follows the dry season, the growth cycle or the felling licence period in that country. Arrival is when a shipment from that origin typically lands in a consuming market. The gap between them is seasoning, sawing or processing, the permit and phytosanitary procedure and the voyage.
HarvestArrival
| Origin | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Myanmar | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest Nov to Apr, arrival Jan to JunThe source of natural forest teak. Extraction runs in the dry season, and the origin carries import restrictions in several major markets that are checked before any cargo commits. | ||||
| India | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Nov to Mar, arrival Dec to AprBoth natural forest and long established plantation teak, felled after the monsoon, with most volume consumed domestically and sold through auction. | ||||||
| Indonesia | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Harvest May to Sep, arrival Jun to OctThe largest plantation teak source, on Java, with felling concentrated in the dry season and a mature certified supply chain. | ||||||
| Laos | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest Nov to Mar, arrival Jan to AprSmallholder plantation teak cut in the dry season, moving largely into regional processing. | ||||||
| Thailand | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Nov to Mar, arrival Dec to AprPlantation teak felled in the cool dry season, with a substantial furniture and joinery manufacturing sector. | ||||||
| Ghana | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Nov to Feb, arrival Dec to AprEstablished plantation teak, felled in the dry season and exported largely as logs and squares. | ||||||
| Cote d'Ivoire | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Nov to Feb, arrival Dec to AprLong established teak plantations, felled in the dry season and shipped as logs and sawn timber. | ||||||
| Nigeria | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Nov to Feb, arrival Dec to AprPlantation teak felled in the dry season, with export volume moving mainly to Asia. | ||||||
| Tanzania | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Harvest Jun to Oct, arrival Jul to NovCertified plantation teak felled in the dry season, a growing source of well documented material. | ||||||
| Brazil | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Harvest May to Sep, arrival Jun to OctLarge plantation base in Mato Grosso and Para, felled in the dry season and exported as logs and sawn timber. | ||||||
| Ecuador | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Harvest Jun to Nov, arrival Jul to DecCoastal plantation teak felled in the dry season and exported mainly as logs to Asia. | |||||
| Colombia | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest Jun to Feb, arrival Jan to SepPlantation teak felled in the two dry windows, exported as logs and sawn timber. | ||||
| Panama | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Harvest Jan to Apr, arrival Feb to MayOne of the earliest Latin American plantation programmes, felled in the dry season. | |||||||
| Papua New Guinea | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Harvest May to Oct, arrival Jul to NovPlantation and natural stands harvested in the drier middle of the year. | |||||
| Solomon Islands | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Harvest May to Oct, arrival Jul to NovSmallholder plantation teak harvested in the drier months and shipped through Asian hubs. |
Windows outside this pattern trade on request, including term supply, forward positions and stock already seasoned and sitting in a destination warehouse.
Customs, packing and contract terms
Indicative terms for teak. Tariff classification is the importer’s responsibility and limits change, so confirm both against the destination customs authority and the current regulation before you fix a contract.
- HS heading4403.49 Tropical wood in the rough, other, including teak
4407.29 Tropical wood sawn lengthwise, other, including teak - PackingSawn timber strapped in bundles by thickness and length, logs loose or on flat racks, cork in bales, bamboo and rattan in bundles. Kiln dried moisture content declared at load.
- Container loading20ft: 20 t to 25 t of sawn. 40ft is volume limited at roughly 55 to 60 cubic metres. Any wood packaging must carry an ISPM 15 heat treatment or fumigation mark.
- Contract and arbitrationATIBT contracts for tropical hardwood or the terms of the origin association, with arbitration under ATIBT rules or at the contract seat. NHLA grading rules where the destination is North America.
- Destination limitsEUDR (Regulation 2023/1115) due diligence with plot geolocation and legality evidence, US Lacey Act declaration, CITES listing for agarwood, ramin and several rosewoods, and ISPM 15 treatment marking on all wood packaging material.
Common questions
What grades of teak does SIP Global trade?
We quote 52 published grades of teak, including Species - Tectona grandis, verified by wood anatomy where the contract requires it, Source type - Declared, as natural forest, or plantation, with the country and the planting record named, Age at felling - Declared in years, from the plantation record, Form - Declared, as log, square, sawn timber, decking, component, or veneer, Sawing pattern - Declared, as plain sawn, quarter sawn, or rift sawn and Drying method - Declared, as air dried, kiln dried to a stated schedule, or a combination. Every grade is tied to a delivery point and a settlement route. Grades outside the published list are priced on request.
How is teak graded?
Teak is bought on origin, on the heartwood fraction and on grain and colour, because those set both the durability and the value of the piece. Every parameter names how it is measured. The legality position is settled before any other question on this commodity, since teak is subject to origin specific import restrictions and to due diligence requirements in the principal consuming markets. Grading runs on 6 systems: Species, form and identification, Grading and appearance, Dimensions and measurement, Physical and moisture condition, Legality, certification and phytosanitary status and Inspection, documentation and settlement.
Where does SIP Global trade teak?
We trade teak in Myanmar, India, Indonesia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Philippines and 39 further markets. Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown.
When is teak harvested and when does it arrive?
Typical windows are Myanmar: harvest nov to apr, arrival jan to jun; India: harvest nov to mar, arrival dec to apr; Indonesia: harvest may to sep, arrival jun to oct; Laos: harvest nov to mar, arrival jan to apr; Thailand: harvest nov to mar, arrival dec to apr. Harvest is when the lot is taken at origin, arrival is when a shipment from that origin lands in a consuming market. Windows outside this pattern, including carry, trade on request.
What is the HS code for teak?
Teak is normally classified under HS 4403.49 (tropical wood in the rough, other, including teak) and HS 4407.29 (tropical wood sawn lengthwise, other, including teak). The heading follows the form the goods are in at the border, and national tariffs extend it beyond six digits, so confirm the full line with the destination customs authority before you fix a contract.
How do I get a price for teak?
Send the grade, the origin and the delivery window to the SIP Global desk. That is enough for a trader to come back with a level and a settlement route. 1 listed teak market is published on this page, each with its full specification and terms. We take both sides, physical and financial, prompt to long dated.
Standards and data sources
The grading language on this sheet follows published standards. Trade volumes and tariff lines are public record. Verify anything here against the source.
- IPPCInternational Plant Protection Convention phytosanitary measures
- UN ComtradeOfficial international trade statistics by HS code
- ITC Trade MapBilateral trade flows and tariff data
- FAOSTATFAO production and trade series for agricultural commodities
Price this with our desk
Grade, origin and window if you have them. If what you are carrying does not fit the sheet above, describe it in your own words and a trader will take it from there.