English African Mahogany Brochure
English African Mahogany Brochure
English African Mahogany Brochure
Planting African mahogany (Khaya senegalensis) provides you with the opportunity to earn good income from producing high value timber.
African mahogany is very close in color, texture and weight to a native tree called Beng (Afzelia xylocarpa). It is at times difficult to tell the two timbers apart. The current
price (as of March 2017), of Beng timber is generally USD700 per m3 for a log and USD1300 per m3 for sawn timber.
African mahogany is known in Cambodia as Kandoeng damrey and the timber sells for a similar price to Beng.
LARGE PLANTATIONS
If we look back ten years ago, the US and European markets were the center of demand for wood products, including both pulp and paper and lumber for housing
construction. Today China is the largest importer of logs and lumber and rivals Japan as the largest importer of hardwood woodchips. That has created a restructure
in international timber markets and the rise of Asia as the primary source of demand growth. There has been a systematic shift in world timber supply from
harvesting extensive natural forests to intensively managed timber plantations.
When we look at future supply, natural forest harvest of timber will be flat or slightly declining and all incremental supply will come from plantations, primarily in the
Southern Hemisphere and tropics. That means if all supply will come from plantations and all incremental demand will come from Asia, then timber plantations
located in Asia supplying Asian demand would seem to be a good investment opportunity.
Farm forestry is not a new concept. Tree planting was practiced in ancient times in Asia. The Chinese
cultivated fruit trees from at least 2000 BC, and during the early part of the Chou Empire (circa 1100
BC to 256 BC) the Emperor established a forest service with the responsibility for preserving natural
forest and reforesting denuded lands. Subsequent Han and Tang Dynasties (208 BC to 256 AD)
encouraged people to plant trees important for both food and timber production. In the Sung Dynasty
(420 AD to 589 AD) direct planting of tree seeds for reforestation was widely practiced, and public
land reforested by farmers became the property of the farmer. Monographs were also prepared
describing methods of planting and protection of the Tung tree (Aleurites sp.), bamboos, and other
woody species.
The company has produced plants from trees of good form that are available for sale now. The company has established stocks of selected clones of mahogany
trees and from mid 2017, these clones will be in production ready for sale late 2017.
View of HDM Ag.s Greenhouse HDM Ag. President Greg Hooker in Shade House with mahogany plants ready for sale
Greenhouse with clonal plants
in production
First: The land is cleared and ploughed and the planting lines are marked ready for planting the trees
Planting rows
4 meters
4 meters
Actual yields may vary from these figures, tree management, climate, rainfall and fertiliser applications are all important to obtain a good yield.
Shown below is the Lucas Portable Sawmill. These machines are designed to suit the harvesting of both hard and soft timber species, and can be operated on any
terrain. The versatility of these mills provides operators with the ability to cut both small and large boards to specific dimensions, whilst minimising wastage.
Mahogany timber
grown in Cambodia
When the trees reach over 20cm in diameter, 312 trees per ha are harvested and total yield could be approx 31.2 m3 of timber.
When the trees reach over 40cm in diameter, 156 trees per ha are harvested and total yield could be approx 117.0 m3
When the trees reach over 60cm in diameter, the final 157 trees are harvested and total yield could be approx 235.5 m3.
Actual yields will vary according to site conditions, rainfall and height.
African mahogany timber is similar in weight, color and texture to the native Beng timber and generally sells for a similar price to Beng timber for both log and
sawn timber.
The current (March 2017) price in Cambodia for Beng and African Mahogany timber is USD700 per m3 for a log and USD1300 per m3 for sawn timber. Prices do
vary between the different Timber Millers.
The fluctuation of the price of timber is subject to changes in supply and demand and therefore these prices are given as a guide only.
Contact
Dr Ngor Botumchan
Vice President
Email: info@hdmacl.com
Website: www.mahoganycambodia.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MahoganyCambodia/