Okan, also traded as Denya, is a very heavy and very durable African hardwood, and DA Global has posted buying requests for it. If you are a logging company, sawmill or exporter with Okan to sell, this guide shows how to describe it correctly and what a Vietnamese buyer looks at in an Okan timber offer.

Okan, Denya, Adoum: use the botanical name

Okan is the trade name for Cylicodiscus gabunensis (family Fabaceae). The CIRAD / ITTO Tropix sheet lists the main producing countries as Cameroon, Congo (Republic of), Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, Ghana and Nigeria, and many local names: Denya, Benya and Adadua in Ghana, Adoum and Bokoka in Cameroon, N'duma in Congo, Oduma and Édoum in Gabon. Suppliers from different countries may therefore list the same timber under different names.

Put Cylicodiscus gabunensis in your offer next to the name you use, so the buyer knows it is the same species as in their enquiry.

What the technical sheet tells a buyer

According to Tropix (values are averages for mature wood and vary with origin and growing conditions):

  • Very dense: specific gravity about 0.91 at 12% moisture content. Logs do not float.
  • Very durable: heartwood is durability class 1 against fungi. The sheet notes it is used in ground and fresh-water contact and as a substitute for azobe and greenheart in heavy construction.
  • Logs: diameter typically 90 to 150 cm, with a clearly demarcated sapwood band of 5 to 8 cm.
  • Grain: medium texture with marked interlocked grain, which can make a good finish hard to obtain on some pieces.
  • Drying: slow, with a high risk of distortion and checking.
  • Machining: fairly high blunting effect; stellite-tipped saw teeth and tungsten carbide tools are recommended.

These points explain the questions a buyer will ask. Weight limits how much fits in a container, and drying behaviour makes the condition of sawn pieces important.

Logs, squares or sawn timber: say which

State clearly which form you offer, and send a separate line for each form.

  • Okan logs: diameter range, length range, sapwood thickness, how logs are marked, and photos of the log ends.
  • Okan squared timber: section sizes, length range, amount of sapwood and wane left, and whether ends are sealed or marked.
  • Okan sawn timber: thickness, width, length, the grade you use (for example the ATIBT appearance grades FAS, No.1 Common and select, No.2 Common) and whether it is fresh-sawn or dried.

See also logs, squared timber or sawn timber: which to offer.

What to include in your Okan offer

  1. Origin and port of loading, because both affect transit to Vietnam.
  2. Form and specification as above, with the botanical name.
  3. Stock today and monthly supply, kept separate. Buyers planning regular purchases want to know what you can ship month after month.
  4. Container loading: how you normally load, such as the approximate volume per 20' or 40' container, since weight rather than space usually limits an Okan container.
  5. Price basis: Incoterm and currency. You can send the specification and photos first and discuss price once there is a match.
  6. Recent photos of the actual lot: stacks, log ends with markings, or a loaded container. See how to photograph timber stock for an export offer.

Documents for a shipment are discussed directly for each concrete lot. A short note on what you normally provide for export is enough in your first message.

Okan requests from DA Global

DA Global has posted requests for Okan (Denya) squared timber from Cameroon, Congo and the Central African Republic. See the Okan / Denya request page and all current timber buying requests. Our needs change over time and we do not buy every volume or specification, so a clear offer lets us tell you quickly whether your lot fits.

How to send your Okan offer

Use the offer form on this page with your country, the volume you can supply, form, dimensions, monthly volume, port, Incoterm and photos, plus an email or WhatsApp contact. For the full checklist, read how to submit a timber offer to a Vietnam buyer or visit our raw timber sourcing page.

Frequently asked questions

Is Okan the same as Denya?

They are trade names for the same species, Cylicodiscus gabunensis, used in different countries. Always add the botanical name to avoid confusion.

Do you buy Okan logs or squared timber?

We have posted requests for squared timber from several origins. Tell us exactly which form and origin you have and we will say whether it fits a current need.

Why do buyers ask about drying for Okan sawn timber?

Tropix rates Okan as slow drying with a high risk of distortion and checking. Whether sawn timber is fresh-sawn or dried changes how it is handled and used.

Should I quote a price in my first message?

It helps to state the Incoterm and currency. You can send the specification and photos first and discuss price once there is a match.

Sources

  1. CIRAD / ITTO Tropix online — Okan technical sheet (updated 30/09/2026) — checked 2026-10-21 · Botanical name, producing countries, log description, density, durability, drying, machining and trade names of Cylicodiscus gabunensis; values vary with origin
  2. ATIBT — grading rules for sawn tropical timber (referenced in the Tropix sheet) — checked 2026-10-21 · Existence of FAS / No.1 Common and select / No.2 Common appearance grades for sawn timber