Vietnam plants over 260,000 hectares of new forests annually, ensuring a steady supply of high-quality, diverse wood products for the global market. Below are the top 7 types of wood favoured for export from Vietnam, meeting quality standards, origin, and environmental protection regulations of demanding markets like the EU, US, and Japan.
Eucalyptus Wood
Eucalyptus wood is the most commonly used type of wood in Vietnam. Originating from Australia, it was introduced to Vietnam in the 1950s. Eucalyptus is easy to grow, adapting well to nutrient-poor soils, and grows quickly. It is widely grown in mountainous and plain areas, especially in southern provinces, with over 100,000 hectares of eucalyptus forests.
There are over 700 types of eucalyptus globally, with Vietnam cultivating 10 varieties. Eucalyptus wood is typically harvested when the tree is between 5 and 7 years old. The wood is strong and dense, often surpassing white oak in these properties. The sapwood is pale cream, while the heartwood ranges from pink to reddish-brown.
Eucalyptus is of Group IV of the Vietnam wood classification, cheap price, and low proportion. It naturally resists termites and is easy to saw, split, and process, making it suitable for furniture production, flooring, construction, and other wood products.
Applications of Eucalyptus Wood
- Furniture Production: Used for tables, chairs, cabinets, and other furniture items.
- Construction: Utilized in projects such as columns, trusses, and other load-bearing structures.
- Paper and Plywood Production: Employed in the paper industry and for making plywood.
In Vietnam’s wood classification, eucalyptus is categorized in wood group IA. Although it may lack the aesthetic appeal of colour, grain, or fragrance, its high economic value comes from its wide range of applications and short exploitation time. Wood from group IA is often used in construction and paper making, and if it meets certain hardness standards, it can be used for furniture.
Main Export Markets: China and the EU.
Rubberwood
Rubberwood, a light-coloured, medium-density tropical hardwood, is obtained from the trunk of the Hevea brasiliensis rubber tree, commonly grown in rubber plantations. It contributes to 10%-12% of the wood used in Vietnam. Vietnamese rubber wood and its products are consumed in 120 countries and territories, with major markets including the United States, China, Japan, the EU, and Korea.
Introduced to Saigon by the French in 1878, rubberwood initially struggled to survive. It wasn’t until 1897 that rubber trees began to thrive in Vietnam. These trees are typically harvested after completing their latex extraction cycle, around 20-25 years, ensuring high-quality wood with clear growth rings.
Specifications of Vietnamese Rubberwood
- Density: 560-640 kg/m³ at 16% MC
- Tangent Residual Shrinkage Coefficient: 1.2%
- Residual Shrinkage Coefficient: 0.8%
- Hardness: 4350 N
- Static Bending: 66 N/mm at 12% MC
- Modulus of Elasticity: 9700 N/mm at 12% MC
- Classification of Wood: Group III
Characteristics of Vietnamese Rubberwood
Colour and Grain: Bright colours ranging from light yellow to light brown, with even and attractive grain, ideal for furniture and decorative products.
Durability: Good durability, resistant to impact, and not easily warped or cracked.
Termite Resistance: Properly treated rubberwood is resistant to termites, making it popular in furniture manufacturing.
Chemical Treatment and Drying: Rubberwood in Vietnam undergoes careful chemical treatment and drying processes, enhancing its termite resistance and durability. The wood is dried to a standard moisture content of about 12% before production to prevent warping and cracking.
Environmentally Friendly: Over 90% of the rubberwood supply comes from large plantations, with potential for sustainable wood certification.
Applications of Rubberwood
Furniture Production: Widely used for tables, chairs, cabinets, beds, and other furniture due to its easy processing and high aesthetic value.
Flooring: Used for durable and strong flooring.
Household Items and Decorations: Employed in decorative products and household items such as picture frames and bookshelves.
Main Export Markets: United States, China, EU.
Acacia Wood
Acacia wood is a significant component of Vietnam’s forestry sector, with approximately 3.5 million hectares of planted production forests, and acacia occupying 70-80% of this area. Annually, over 100,000 hectares of acacia forests are planted, reflecting its growing importance.
Acacia wood is widespread in Vietnam, mainly concentrated in Lao Cai, the Central Highlands, and some northern provinces. Acacia belongs to Group III in Vietnam’s wood classification. The two most well-known types are hybrid acacia (Acacia Auriculiformis Mangium) and leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala).
Characteristics of Acacia Wood
Growth: Acacia Melaleuca grows quickly, with straight trunks and a mature diameter of 40-50 cm. Timber trees have a lifespan of 10-15 years, while those used for paper production are harvested after 7-10 years.
Physical Properties: Vietnamese Melaleuca wood has good hardness, termite resistance, and natural antibacterial properties, ensuring high durability.
Colour and Grain: The wood has beautiful colours and clear grain, enhancing the aesthetics of interior products. The colour and grain can differ from Melaleuca wood from other countries due to ecological conditions and treatment methods.
Applications of Acacia Wood
Furniture Production: Used for tables, chairs, cabinets, beds, and other furniture products. Large, round hybrid acacia wood is a primary material for export furniture.
Construction: Employed in columns, rafters, and flooring.
Paper Industry: Grown for paper production and forest garden improvement. Also used in perfume manufacturing due to its strong fragrance.
Medicine: The astringent gum (Catechu) from Acacia Catechu is used in traditional medicine.
Pricing of Acacia Wood:
Main Export Markets: Japan, Korea, EU.
Pine Wood
Pine is a type of tree with a large, upright trunk, making it easy for manufacturers to cut into pieces. This conifer often grows in highland areas with temperate climates, such as Da Lat and the Central Highlands in Vietnam. Pine trees grow quickly, providing a continuous supply of raw materials. Pine wood is known for its good quality, reasonable price, beautiful grain, and colour, making it easy to process into diverse and attractive designs.
Raw pine wood is lighter than many other types, making it convenient for moving and interior arrangement. Its beautiful grain and ease of processing make it popular for producing highly aesthetic furniture, including beds, cabinets, tables, and chairs for export.
Main Characteristics of Pine Wood
White Pine: Has a light red heartwood and white to slightly yellow-brown sapwood, with many large and small knots. The wood grain is clear, with resin ducts. The resin in the trunk remains after harvesting, protecting the wood from termites and decay. White pine is of group I Classification of Wood of Vietnam often used to make fine arts and high-end interior decorations
Yellow Pine: Features a golden colour with even, beautiful grain. Known for its high heat resistance and characteristic aroma, it provides a refreshing, relaxing, and warm ambience.
Composite Pine: Made from pieces of natural pine wood, treated to prevent mould and termites. Composite pine is popular for furniture due to its durability and lower cost.
Common Uses of Pine Wood
Furniture Production: With undeniable outstanding advantages such as pine wood grain is quite clear and does not have many; Modern colours, in harmony with cosy space; Pine wood is widely used to make tables, chairs, cabinets, beds, and other furniture products thanks to its good mechanical properties and high aesthetics. Pine wood is light so it is very convenient to move when making furniture; Good bearing capacity, and good nail and glue adhesion.
Construction: Used for columns, trusses, flooring, and other structures.
Paper Industry: An important raw material for paper production due to its suitable mechanical and chemical properties.
Fine Arts: Used for handicrafts and decorative items. Its beautiful grain and high aesthetic value make it easy to design and shape. The heartwood is naturally resistant to decay, making it highly durable and long-lasting. Pine wood is light, facilitating easy movement in various spaces.
Main Export Markets: United States, EU, Japan.
Teak wood
Teak wood, scientifically known as Tectona Grandis, is also referred to as Indian oak. It is commonly used for making tables, chairs, beds, cabinets, and wooden floors. Occasionally, teak wood is used for gun stocks, earning it the nickname “gun stock wood.”
Teak is a fast-growing timber tree. It can reach a height of 21 meters and a diameter of about 23 cm within 20 years. After this period, the growth rate slows, and the tree can live up to 80 years. Teak belongs to Group 3 on Vietnam’s wood classification – The group of wood is lighter (density ranges from 0.5 – 0.65), softer, has high strength, and has great toughness.
Teak wood holds high economic value, with over 80% of its output used in the wood processing industry. It’s of group III of Wood’s classification which is a key material for producing export furniture.
Characteristics of Vietnamese Teak Wood
Colour and Grain: Teak wood is dark yellow or slightly brownish grey. The heartwood is yellow or grey-brown with black streaks, while the sapwood is light white. The grain is straight or mountain-shaped, smooth, and tough, rarely cracking or shrinking.
Durability and Stability: Highly durable, teak wood has good bearing capacity, flexibility, and resistance to warping and cracking in harsh weather. It is water-resistant and highly resistant to insects and mould due to the natural oils in the trunk.
Density and Bearing Capacity: Density ranges from 0.5-0.65, with tensile force across the grain of 32 kg/cm², compressive force along the grain of 471 kg/cm², and buckling force of 1,253 kg/cm².
Growth and Development
- Growth Rate: Teak grows rapidly, reaching 21 meters in height and 23 cm in diameter within 20 years. It can live up to 80 years.
- Growing Conditions: Teak thrives in various climatic conditions and is widely grown in Vietnam.
Applications of Teak Wood
- Furniture: Used for tables, chairs, beds, and cabinets due to its beautiful colour and grain. It does not need painting, only a coating to enhance durability and beauty.
- Wooden Flooring: Its water resistance and ability to withstand harsh environments make it ideal for indoor and outdoor flooring.
- Yacht Building: Lightness, water resistance, and weather resistance make teak ideal for luxury yacht construction.
- Outdoor Projects: Commonly used in gardens, bridges, and other outdoor structures due to its good weather resistance.
- Military: Used for gun stocks due to its durability, lightness, and adaptability to harsh environments.
Advantages of Vietnamese Teak Wood
- Adaptability: Withstands harsh and fluctuating climates, ensuring long-lasting durability for products.
- Ageing Gracefully: Becomes shinier and more beautiful with use, especially beneficial for interior products and outdoor flooring.
- Natural Oils: Contain essential oils that resist insects, termites, and mould.
- Easy to Clean: Easily cleaned with common detergents like vinegar, alcohol, lemon juice, or soap without affecting durability and quality.
- Mechanical Properties: Flexible, with good bearing capacity, and does not shrink, warp, or crack after use, retaining its shape in all weather conditions.
- Mould Resistance: Natural oils make it resistant to mould, ideal for outdoor and wet environment products.
Main Export Markets: United States, EU.
Mango Wood
According to the Department of Crop Production (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), Vietnam has more than 115,000 hectares dedicated to mango cultivation. Major mango-producing provinces include Son La, Dong Thap, An Giang, and Dong Nai, with the Mekong Delta boasting the largest growing area of 49,900 hectares.
Mango wood is harvested from the mango tree (Mangifera indica), known for its large canopy and trunk. Typically, the tree is harvested when it is 10 years old or older, at which point the trunk has reached a significant size, and the wood quality is optimal for furniture and other wood products. According to Vietnamese Standards, mango wood falls under WOOD GROUP V, commonly used in construction and furniture making.
Characteristics of Mango Wood
Hardness and Durability: Mango wood is highly durable with a slow wear rate, maintaining its texture and shine over time. It tends to darken with age, gaining a unique, beautiful colour.
Colour: Mango wood comes in a variety of colours, ranging from deep brown and mahogany to yellow-brown, contributing to aesthetically pleasing interior products.
Termite Resistance: To enhance durability, mango wood is often finished with a coating that prevents termites and discolouration.
Water Resistance: High water resistance makes mango wood suitable for interior products in humid environments.
Applications of Mango Wood
Furniture Production: Used to make beds, chairs, tables, cabinets, shelves, and bookshelves. Mango wood furniture is known for its high bearing capacity, beautiful colour, and affordability, offering modern and luxurious aesthetics.
Toys and Decorative Items: Easy to stain and sand, mango wood is ideal for creating toys and decorative items.
Wooden Floors: Suitable for wooden floors due to its water resistance, making it ideal for humid environments.
Plywood and Thin Boards: Used in the production of plywood, thin boards, and other types of boards.
Unique Designs: Easily carved and processed into unique designs, meeting the demands for distinctive furniture products.
Handicrafts: Employed in making handicraft products such as statues, jewellery boxes, photo frames, and various decorative items, which are valued for their uniqueness and quality.
Main Export Markets: Vietnam exports mango wood and wood products to many countries, including the United States, China, Japan, Korea, and EU countries.
Melaleuca wood
Melaleuca wood is predominantly grown and harvested in Southeast Asia, especially in countries like Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand. The tropical and subtropical climate of this region provides ideal conditions for Melaleuca trees to thrive, resulting in high-quality wood. In Vietnam, Melaleuca and cajuput trees are most commonly found in the southern provinces, particularly in the Mekong Delta regions such as Kien Giang, Dong Thap, and Ca Mau. These trees are also distributed in some northern provinces like Hai Duong, Quang Ninh, and Nghe An.
Characteristics of Melaleuca Wood
Wood Quality: Melaleuca wood belongs to Group IV according to Vietnamese wood classification standards. It is known for its natural colour, smooth grain, durability, and ease of processing.
Durability and Hardness: The wood core is hard and strong, with a density of about 650 kg/m³, offering high durability, good bearing capacity, and resistance to warping and cracking. It also has natural termite resistance and antibacterial properties due to its essential oils.
Colour and Grain: Melaleuca wood ranges from light yellow to light brown, with smooth and straight grain. Although not particularly special, it provides a natural and warm appearance.
Water Resistance: It has good water resistance, making it ideal for products used in wet environments.
Ease of Processing: The wood has good machinability, a large diameter, and a smooth cell structure, allowing for a variety of shapes and sizes.
Types and Growth
Melaleuca cajuputi:
- Height: 10-20 meters on average, up to 30 meters in optimal conditions.
- Living Conditions: Inland flooded environments and low-lying acidic soils, are common in southern provinces.
Melaleuca leucadendra:
- Height: 15-25 meters on average, up to 30 meters in good conditions.
- Living Conditions: Flooded and acidic soils, are found in the Mekong Delta and some northern provinces.
Melaleuca alternifolia:
- Height: 7-15 meters.
- Living Conditions: Humid climates, suitable for wetlands.
Applications of Melaleuca Wood
Furniture Production: Used to make tables, chairs, cabinets, beds, and other furniture items due to its good mechanical properties and high aesthetics. Premium furniture from Melaleuca is often harvested after 13 years, resulting in large-diameter wood that is easy to shape with a beautiful yellow colour and few defects.
Wooden Floors: Employed in construction projects for columns, trusses, flooring, and other structures.
Construction Projects: Used for wooden floors, columns, and fences due to its waterproof and termite-resistant properties. For example:
- Wood with a diameter of over 10cm and a length of 1.2m (excluding bark) for sawn wood production (block joinery, bar joinery, etc.)
- Wood products with a diameter of 6cm to 10cm as chip material (for the production of chipboard, MDF board, paper material, or export)
Insulating Materials: The tree bark contains oxalate and lime carbonate, providing good thermal insulation.
Cajeput Essential Oil: Extracted from leaves and stems, it has antibacterial effects and is used in medicine and health care.
Paper Production: Utilized for paper due to its durability and water resistance.
Charcoal: Small-diameter Melaleuca wood is often used for charcoal production and firewood.
Harvest Time
Melaleuca Trees: Typically harvested after 10-15 years. Used for essential oils, paper production, furniture, and construction materials.
Cajuput Trees: Similar harvest time, with uses in construction and paper production.
Tea Trees: Harvested for leaves after 5-7 years for essential oils, and for wood after 10-15 years for furniture and other products.
Melaleuca wood’s versatility and durability make it a valuable resource in various industries, from furniture making to construction and beyond.
Seven popular Vietnamese wood species all have unique characteristics in colour, grain, and mechanical properties, making them suitable for many different applications in production. From furniture, flooring, and decorations to construction and paper production, each type of wood brings high economic value and meets the diverse needs of domestic and international markets. The sustainable exploitation and use of these types of wood will help maintain Vietnam’s valuable natural resources while meeting standards from the US and EU, helping Vietnamese wood products increase their market share worldwide. bridge.
Classification of Wood Groups According to International Standards
According to industry experts, wood is divided into 8 groups according to international measurement standards, specifically as follows:
- Really heavy wood: Density from 0.95 – 1.40 kg/m3
- Heavy wood: Density from 0.80 – 0.95 kg/m3
- Medium-heavy wood: Density from 0.65 -0.80 kg/m3
- Light wood: Density from 0.50 – 0.65 kg/m3
- Real light wood: Density from 0.20 – 0.50 kg/m3
- Super light wood: Density from 0.04 – 0.20 kg/m3
Group I:
- Characteristics: Heaviest density
- Attributes: Precious woods with beautiful grain, colour, fragrance, high durability, and economic value.
Group II:
- Characteristics: Heavy density
- Attributes: Heavy, hardwood with high density and durability.
Group III:
- Characteristics: Heavy density but lighter and softer than Groups I and II
- Attributes: Light, soft, flexible, and quite durable.
Group IV:
- Characteristics: Average density, quite heavy
- Attributes: Natural colour, smooth surface, relatively durable, and easy to process.
Group V:
- Characteristics: Average density
- Attributes: Widely used in the furniture industry.
Group VI:
- Characteristics: Light to medium-density
- Attributes: Poor resistance to termites, but easy to process.
Group VII:
- Characteristics: Light density
- Attributes: Low bearing capacity and moderate termite resistance.
Group VIII:
- Characteristics: Light density
- Attributes: Very poor bearing capacity and high susceptibility to termites.
This classification helps in understanding the various properties and suitable applications of different types of wood in industries such as furniture production, construction, and more.
