Sapelli or Sapele? One Wood, Two Names — and What Importers Should Know
If you search for this wood you get "sapelli" in West African trade and "sapele" almost everywhere else — same tree, Entandrophragma cylindricum, same lumber. This post sorts out the naming, then covers what actually matters when you order: grade, drying and dimension.
Two spellings, one species
"Sapele" is the standard commercial short form in the US and UK trade; "sapelli" is common in Nigerian and West African export documentation, with "sapele mahogany" as a third retail-side name — even though it is not a true mahogany. On documents, pick one spelling and keep it consistent across PO, bill of lading and phytosanitary paperwork; customs does not enjoy re-explaining synonyms.
Our stock page uses sapelli (sapele) sawn timber; the logs side is listed here, and square blanks here.
What to specify when you order
Rather than fight over the name, put four things on the purchase order: dimensions (thickness x width x length, with tolerance), grade (FAS or an agreed commercial grade), moisture regime (air dried AD or kiln dried KD with a target moisture content), and quantity in containers or cubic meters.
Sapele is reasonably stable and machines well, but the interlocked grain tears on planing if the cutter setup is careless — cutters with a jointer or a helical head handle it. It air-dries and kiln-dries without major trouble on standard schedules.
Typical uses and what to watch
Sapele is the default for doors, window frames, furniture, flooring and interior joinery — a mid-weight reddish-brown hardwood with a ribbon stripe that shines under clear coats. Watch two things: heartwood colour varies from pinkish to deep purple-brown, so if your market needs colour consistency, ask for sorting at the mill; and like other mahogany-family woods, it is graded against the same standard species, which keeps pricing honest.
We ship sapele from 1 container, FOB or CFR, with cargo photos and stuffing documents before loading. Send your size list for current pricing.