Okoume plywood manufacturer in India — calibrated panels for export packing and joinery

Okoume is a face veneer, not a grade

Okoume (Aucoumea klaineana) is a West African hardwood with a pale, even-textured face and very little weight behind it. On our press line it is a face option, not a separate grade: you choose the base — MR packing plywood to IS 303, or BWR for humid routes — and specify Okoume faces on one or both sides. The construction, glue line and tolerances stay those of the base panel. What the Okoume face adds is a clean, uniform surface that takes paint, print and lamination without telegraphing core defects through the finish.

For the species itself — where it grows, how it machines, and what its low density means in practice — see our profile of Okoume (Aucoumea klaineana) in Woods We Use.

The calibrated E1 Okoume panel

For furniture, shopfitting and joinery export we run a dedicated calibrated panel: Okoume face over a eucalyptus core, sanded to a held thickness, E1 formaldehyde emission class. A 16 mm sheet weighs about 32 kg — light enough to matter across a full container. We supply it bare, ready for your own finish, or HPL-laminated off our press so components arrive one step closer to assembly.

Why export buyers specify Okoume

Two reasons come up on almost every enquiry. First, weight. Plywood shipments usually hit the container weight limit before they fill the space, so a lighter panel means more sheets on the same booking — and lighter crates for whatever those sheets become. Packing-case makers who cut our packing plywood into export crates pass that saving straight to their own freight bills. Second, the face. Okoume gives plywood boxes and crates a smooth, brandable surface, and gives joinery shops a substrate that laminates cleanly without extra preparation.

Where we ship it

Three lanes carry most of our Okoume volume. The GCC — UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain — takes packing panels and calibrated boards alike. Israel is an Okoume-focused lane we quote on FOB Cochin terms only, with buyers clearing through Ashdod or Haifa; details are on the Israel export page. And Sri Lanka sits at the end of one of the shortest export runs from India — Kochi to Colombo in a typical two to four days on the water.

Okoume options at a glance

Sheet sizes, face combinations and thicknesses outside this table are quoted against your specification.

Okoume vs Gurjan face — how to choose

Okoume and Gurjan are the two face veneers we press most often. Both sit on the same MR (IS 303) or BWR base; the choice is about finish, weight and cost.

Buyers who compare imported Birch-faced panels usually specify Birch only for high-end visible furniture faces; for export packing and most joinery, an Okoume or Gurjan face on a hardwood core is the practical choice. Tell us the end use and we advise the face.

The ISPM-15 position

Plywood is processed wood, so the panels themselves are exempt from ISPM-15 — no heat-treatment stamp is needed on an Okoume sheet crossing a border. That exemption is one of the quiet advantages of plywood packing over solid-wood packing. Where an order includes assembled boxes or crates with solid-timber members, we build them under an ISPM-15-compliant process so the finished packaging clears phytosanitary checks without surprises at the port.

Commercial terms

Export quotes are in USD, FOB Cochin by default — and FOB only for Israel. Standard products move on 50% advance with the balance before dispatch; made-to-order specifications are against 100% advance. We accept bank transfer (T/T). Within India, supply is ex-factory from Kochi with GST and transport extra. Every panel carries our material guarantee. Send thickness, sheet size, face requirement, monthly quantity and destination, and a written quote comes back within one business day.

FAQ

Is Okoume plywood a separate grade?

No. Okoume is a premium face veneer we press onto MR (IS 303) or BWR base panels, plus a dedicated calibrated E1 board with a eucalyptus core. You specify the base grade and the Okoume face; the glue line and construction follow the base.

How much does a calibrated 16 mm Okoume panel weigh?

About 32 kg per sheet. The panel is E1 emission class with an Okoume face and a eucalyptus core, calibrated to a held thickness, and supplied bare or HPL-laminated.

Do you export Okoume plywood to Israel?

Yes. Israel is one of our main Okoume lanes. We quote in USD on FOB Cochin terms only, and buyers typically clear cargo through Ashdod or Haifa.

Does Okoume plywood need ISPM-15 treatment?

No. Plywood is processed wood and exempt from ISPM-15, so panels ship without treatment stamps. Assembled boxes or crates that include solid-timber members are built under an ISPM-15-compliant process.

What thicknesses and sheet sizes does Okoume plywood come in?

We press Okoume faces on 6, 8, 12, 15 and 18 mm base panels and supply the calibrated E1 board in furniture thicknesses. The standard sheet is 8×4 ft (2440×1220 mm); other sizes are cut to order. Send the thickness, face and sheet size and we confirm availability.

How much does Okoume plywood cost in India?

Price depends on the base grade, thickness, sheet size and order volume, so we quote per specification rather than list a shelf price. Send your thickness, quantity and delivery location or export port and a written quote comes back within one business day.

Okoume or Gurjan face — which should I choose?

Okoume is a pale, uniform, lighter face that paints and lacquers cleanly, preferred for export packing and painted furniture. Gurjan is a denser, reddish-brown face that is harder-wearing and more economical, common on heavy-duty packing and shuttering. Both press onto the same MR or BWR base; you pick the face and the grade.

What core sits under the Okoume face?

A hardwood core — rubberwood or eucalyptus depending on the grade and thickness. The calibrated E1 board runs a eucalyptus core for a held thickness and a clean edge.

Is Okoume plywood the same as marine plywood?

No. Okoume is a face veneer; marine plywood is defined by its glue bond and construction (IS 710 BWP). You can have an Okoume face on a BWR base for humid routes, but a true marine panel is specified by grade, not by face.

What is the minimum order for Okoume plywood export?

We load to container quantities for export and quote FOB Cochin in USD. A 20 ft or 40 ft load is the practical minimum for a sea shipment; smaller trial quantities can be arranged for sampling.

Can you supply Okoume plywood laminated or with an HPL finish?

Yes. The calibrated E1 Okoume board is supplied bare or pressed with HPL for finished joinery and furniture parts. Specify the laminate and we quote the finished panel.

What emission class does your Okoume board carry?

The calibrated Okoume panel is made to E1 emission class. Grade, glue bond (MR or BWR) and any test-certificate requirement are confirmed in writing with the quote.