Timber products
Asian hardwoods for decking, joinery and construction
Merbau, yellow balau, kapur, meranti and keruing, shipped by the container direct from the mill.
Each timber suits a different job, so we help you choose before we quote.
Five Southeast Asian hardwoods, from legal, documented sources in Indonesia and Malaysia.
Species guide
Five timbers, each with a clear job
Choose by where the timber will be used. Outdoor timber needs natural durability, joinery needs a stable, easily worked timber, and structural work needs strength at a sensible price.
Decking and outdoor work
- Merbau (kwila) is the benchmark decking timber in Australia and the Pacific. It is dark reddish brown, very stable and Class 1 durable above ground.
- Yellow balau (bangkirai) is harder and paler than merbau, and suits decks, boardwalks and heavy outdoor structures.
- Kapur is a warm reddish-brown timber at a lower price, used for decking, stairs and exterior joinery.
Windows, doors and joinery
- Dark red meranti is light, even-grained and easy to machine, which makes it the standard choice for window frames, doors and mouldings. It is moderately durable, so it performs best painted or under cover rather than as decking.
Heavy construction
- Keruing is strong and economical, and is widely used for heavy framing, truck decks and container flooring. It needs preservative treatment if it will be exposed to the weather.
Technical data
Compared side by side
| Species | Botanical name | Main origins | Density (seasoned) | Durability above ground | Durability in ground | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merbau (kwila) | Intsia bijuga, Intsia spp. | Indonesia, Malaysia | about 830 to 860 kg/m³ | Class 1 | Class 3 | Decking, screens, stairs, joinery |
| Yellow balau (bangkirai) | Shorea spp. | Indonesia, Malaysia | about 900 kg/m³ | On request | On request | Decking, boardwalks, heavy outdoor structures |
| Kapur | Dryobalanops spp. | Malaysia, Indonesia | about 750 kg/m³ | Class 2 | Class 3 | Decking, stairs, door and window frames |
| Dark red meranti | Shorea spp. | Malaysia, Indonesia | about 670 kg/m³ | Class 3 | Class 4 | Windows, doors, mouldings, internal joinery |
| Keruing | Dipterocarpus spp. | Malaysia, Indonesia | about 790 kg/m³ | Class 3 | Class 4 | Heavy framing, truck decks, container flooring |
Durability classes follow AS 5604, where Class 1 is the most durable, and apply to heartwood. Figures are typical published values from Australian sources such as WoodSolutions and the Queensland Government timber database, as a guide.
Red balau and light red meranti are less durable timbers, so we supply yellow balau and dark red meranti. We confirm the species, grade and specification for your order with the quote.
Sourcing
Legal timber, with the paperwork to prove it
Australia’s illegal logging laws require importers to check that their timber was harvested legally. We buy only from mills that can show this, and every shipment comes with a legality due diligence file.
- Indonesia: verified under SVLK, the national timber legality system. Indonesia was the first country to issue EU FLEGT licences, the European Union’s own proof of legal timber.
- Malaysia: can be supplied under the Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS), which is endorsed by PEFC.
Where certified timber is required, we source from FSC or PEFC certified mills and pass the mill’s certificates on to you. Sterling does not hold these certifications itself.
We do not trade timber we cannot trace to a legal source.
Specification
Supply details
| Decking | Merbau, yellow balau and kapur, 90 x 19 mm and 140 x 19 mm, reeded or smooth |
| Decking lengths | Random 1.8 to 5.4 m, or set 2.4, 3.0 and 3.6 m |
| Cladding and screening | 19 x 140 mm, or battens to your profile |
| Joinery stock | Dark red meranti and kapur, sawn or dressed, for window, door and moulding manufacture |
| Sawn boards and sections | All five species, 25, 38, 50 and 75 mm thick, 100 to 250 mm wide. Heavier keruing sections on request |
| Grades | Select and better, or standard and better |
| Moisture content | Kiln dried (KD) to 12 to 15%. Air dried (AD) heavy sections on request |
| Packing | Strapped, wrapped packs, marked by species, size and length. ISPM 15 heat-treated and stamped bearers and dunnage on request, depending on the destination |
| Loading | Roughly 1,000 m² of 19 mm decking per 20-foot container |
| Minimum order | One container, 20 or 40 foot, depending on the lengths required |
| Lead time | Typically 4 to 8 weeks from confirmed order to your port, depending on requirements |
| Documents | Legality due diligence file, certificate of origin, phytosanitary certificate, packing list, FSC or PEFC certificate where supplied, and any fumigation or heat-treatment certificate the destination requires |
Where it is used
Popular uses
- Decks, verandahs and pool surrounds
- Cladding, screens and boardwalks
- Window frames, doors and mouldings
- Stairs and outdoor furniture
- Heavy framing, truck decks and container flooring
Tell us what you need. We will reply as soon as possible.
Asian hardwood FAQs
Which Asian hardwood is best for decking?
Merbau is the most popular choice for its colour, stability and durability. Yellow balau is harder and suits heavy-traffic and commercial decks. Kapur costs less and works well where budget matters more than colour.
Is merbau the same as kwila?
Yes. Both names refer to the same dark reddish-brown Intsia hardwood. It is usually sold as merbau in Australia and as kwila in New Zealand and the Pacific. In the same way, yellow balau is often sold as bangkirai.
Which species can be used in bushfire areas?
In Australia, merbau 18 mm or thicker is on the AS 3959 bushfire-resisting timber list for decking in BAL-12.5 to BAL-29 areas. Kapur is not on that list. Always check the rating that applies to your site.
Is meranti suitable for outdoor use?
Dark red meranti is fine for painted window frames and doors, where the coating protects it. It is not durable enough for decking or for timber left bare to the weather.
Can these timbers go in the ground?
None of them is the best choice. They are Class 2 to 4 in ground, so for posts and stumps we suggest a Class 1 in-ground hardwood or treated pine.
How do you show the timber is legal?
Every shipment comes with a legality due diligence file. Indonesian timber is verified under SVLK, Malaysian timber can be supplied under MTCS, and FSC or PEFC certified timber is available from selected mills.
What grade should I order?
Select grade has fewer knots and minimal sapwood, and suits visible work such as decks and joinery. Standard grade costs less and suits work where boards will be cut, painted or hidden.
How long does an order take?
Typically 4 to 8 weeks from confirmed order to your port, depending on requirements, including the species, the volume and the shipping route. We book production with the mill, and you receive photos of the packs before loading.
Can I mix species in one container?
Sometimes. It depends on the species, sizes and quantity of each. We generally load no more than two species in one container, from the same origin and supplier, and Asian and African hardwoods cannot share a container.
Who it’s for
Supplied to importers, distributors and project buyers
- Timber importers, distributors and wholesalers
- Decking and landscaping contractors
- Window, door and joinery manufacturers
- Builders, developers and resort projects
- Truck body and container flooring manufacturers
Shipped by the container direct from the mill to Australia, New Zealand and any port worldwide, quoted FOB, CFR or CIF, with a legality file on every shipment. See how we work.
Ready to price your timber?
Tell us the species, sizes, quantity and destination port, and we will send a landed price as soon as possible.