The 14 Most Expensive Wood Species in the World
Introduction
Malaysia is home to a diverse array of high-quality wood species, and Creatimber Global Sdn Bhd is your trusted supplier for premium Malaysian wood. We understand that the global demand for durable, rare, and exotic wood species has created a thriving yet challenging market. In this article, we explore 14 of the most expensive wood species worldwide. These woods are valued for their durability, aesthetic appeal, and unique properties, making them highly sought after in industries ranging from furniture to musical instruments.
The 14 Most Expensive Wood Species
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African Blackwood
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Price: $100+/board foot
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Appearance: Deep dark, sometimes with brown or purple hues.
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Uses: High-end furniture, musical instruments, carvings, and tool handles.
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Pros: Extremely durable, insect-resistant, with a straight grain and good luster.
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Cons: Difficult to work with due to its density and hardness.
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Pink Ivory
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Price: $70–$80/board foot
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Appearance: Pale brownish pink to bright pink, fading over time when exposed to sunlight.
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Uses: Tool handles, carvings, and decorative turned objects.
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Pros: Durable and rot-resistant with a unique pink hue.
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Cons: Prone to dulling blades and challenging to work with.
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Ebony Wood
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Price: $60–$80/board foot
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Appearance: Black to dark brown with an elegant, smooth finish.
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Uses: Furniture, cabinet work, and musical instruments.
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Pros: Highly durable with an attractive finish.
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Cons: Limited availability and difficult workability.
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Brazilian Rosewood
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Price: $60–$70/board foot
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Appearance: Reddish to dark chocolate brown with unique streaks.
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Uses: High-quality furniture, veneers, and musical instruments.
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Pros: Extremely durable and stable.
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Cons: Expensive and sensitive to overharvesting.
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Cocobolo Wood
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Price: $50–$60/board foot
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Appearance: Vibrant hues ranging from yellow to red or dark brown.
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Uses: Ornate furniture, tool handles, and musical instruments.
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Pros: Durable with striking patterns.
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Cons: Challenging to work with due to density and oil content.
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Koa Wood
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Price: $20–$100/board foot
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Appearance: Reddish gold to medium golden with visible growth rings.
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Uses: Veneers, guitars, furniture, and carvings.
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Pros: Easy to finish and work with.
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Cons: Susceptible to termites.
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Sandalwood
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Price: $250–$700/kg
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Appearance: Pale yellow-gold with a fine, smooth grain.
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Uses: Perfumes, cosmetics, and small decorative carvings.
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Pros: Rich fragrance and ease of workability.
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Cons: Low durability for furniture.
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Purpleheart Wood
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Price: $40–$50/board foot
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Appearance: Unique grayish-purple that darkens with time.
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Uses: Flooring, furniture, and boatbuilding.
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Pros: Exceptionally durable and insect-resistant.
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Cons: Heat-sensitive during processing.
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Bubinga Wood
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Price: $20–$25/board foot
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Appearance: Dark reddish-brown with black streaks.
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Uses: Guitars, veneers, and cabinetry.
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Pros: Strong and termite-resistant.
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Cons: Difficult to cut due to high silica content.
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Bocote Wood
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Price: $25–$40/board foot
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Appearance: Golden brown to dark brown with exotic grain patterns.
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Uses: Knife handles, furniture, and veneers.
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Pros: Beautiful grain patterns and high durability.
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Cons: Susceptible to insect attacks.
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Black Ironwood
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Price: $30–$40/board foot
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Appearance: Light orange-brown to dark brown.
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Uses: Small carvings and turned objects.
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Pros: Extremely durable and rot-resistant.
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Cons: Very dense, making it hard to work with.
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Ziricote Wood
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Price: $30–$50/board foot
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Appearance: Brown to dark brown with black stripes.
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Uses: Trim, furniture, and guitar bodies.
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Pros: Naturally rot-resistant and easy to finish.
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Cons: Can cause skin irritation during processing.
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Holly Wood
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Price: $50–$60/board foot
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Appearance: Pale white to creamy with fine, smooth texture.
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Uses: Piano keys, inlays, and turned objects.
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Pros: Easy to stain and finish.
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Cons: Knotty and difficult to machine.
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Agarwood
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Price: $100,000/kg
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Appearance: Dark resinous streaks.
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Uses: Perfumes, incense, and traditional medicines.
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Pros: Highly aromatic with cultural significance.
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Cons: Extremely rare and difficult to source.