A Truly Superior Lumber Supplier

Many of the most popular exotic hardwoods species grow in Africa. African species range from the ever-popular Sapele, Utile, and African Mahogany as well as lesser known varieties such as Afromosia and Wenge. In recent years, as a direct importer with a reputable record of supply chain integrity and responsibility, McIlvain has offered an increasing supply of high-quality African lumber products to meet even the most discriminating customers’ needs.

Supply Chain Concerns

Due to recent changes in the laws governing the lumber industry, everyone in the supply chain—including you, the customer—can be held responsible for illegal harvest or trade practices at any point on the supply chain. For US carpenters and builders, the Lacey Act changes now require you to diligently research every link in the supply chain.

For threatened lumber species regulated by the international organization CITES (The Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species), sustainable forestry practices are paramount. Before we begin working with a lumber source, we personally visit and inspect their practices. We also work with local legal experts to inspect their paperwork and hire independent agents to conduct periodic checks to ensure both environmentally and socially responsible practices and quality selections.

Because McIlvain conducts thorough research and purchases lumber only from those saw mills with which we’ve built relationships, you can be assured that the premium lumber you buy from us comes from a well-documented, untainted supply chain.

Direct Importer Benefits

As an importer of record, McIlvain Company is the owner of African lumber when it enters the United States. In addition to helping ensure the integrity of our lumber’s supply chain, this also helps us keep the cost down by cutting out additional middlemen. Of course, our prices include our absorption of exportation and shipping, as well as various taxes, but since we directly import the African lumber that we sell, being an importer of record means that our prices are low, especially considering the quality of the wood we sell.

Oftentimes, we find that our prices are comparable to those of competitors, even when the competitor is selling a lesser quality wood. But because those other lumber dealers are not the importer of record, they are forced to mark up their prices to pay several middlemen. And unfortunately, those mark ups are then passed on to the customer.

Species Variety and Quality

We keep a vast inventory of African lumber species on hand and ready to ship at all times. Some of our most popular African lumbers include African Mahogany, Sapele, and Utile, all of which are available year round. A perennial favorite, African Mahogany, has a trademark reddish brown coloring that few species can emulate, making it a prized wood in a wide variety of projects. The increasing popularity of Sapele lumber comes as no surprise; its ease-of-use, stability, and attractive appearance are making it among our most sought-after tropical hardwood species. And finally, Utile lumber is lesser known than Sapele, but this wood may actually be an even better substitute for Genuine Mahogany.

If you’re looking for African hardwood species, you should use a direct importer who’s also an importer of record. You’ll want a company that has a long history of reputable sourcing and documentation because this not only ensures that the lumber you receive is legal; it also means that the price you pay will be a reasonable one. At McIlvain, we’ve proven ourselves to the public for over 200 years. We look forward to adding you to our family of satisfied customers. For more information on McIlvain Company and why we’ve been an industry leader for over two centuries, visit our website today.