Teak (Tectona grandis) is widely regarded as the premier timber for outdoor and marine applications, combining natural durability with workability and dimensional stability in a combination that no other commercially available wood species can match. Native to South and Southeast Asia, with a natural range extending from India through Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos to the Indonesian island of Java, teak has been traded internationally for over 500 years.
Physical Properties
Teak exhibits a density of approximately 630-690 kg/m3 at 12% moisture content, placing it in the medium-weight hardwood category. Its Janka hardness averages 1,070 lbf (4,760 N) - comparable to American black walnut and lower than hard maple or oak. This moderate hardness, combined with natural oils, is what allows teak to be worked with standard woodworking tools despite being exceptionally durable outdoors.
The key to teak's legendary weather resistance lies in its natural extractives. Teak heartwood contains 2% to 7% silica and approximately 5% rubber-like natural oils by weight. These oils - primarily tectoquinone and related naphthoquinones - confer natural resistance to fungi, termites, and marine borers. In European durability standards (EN 350), teak heartwood achieves Class 1 (very durable), and in Australian standards it rates as Class 1 for both decay and termite resistance - the highest classification possible.
Dimensional stability sets teak apart from most hardwoods. Its volumetric shrinkage from green to oven-dry is approximately 7.2%, remarkably low compared to oak (16%) or even the notably stable mahogany (10%). The combination of low shrinkage and natural lubricity from its oil content makes teak the traditional choice for marine decking, where planks must swell and contract minimally through wet-dry cycles without cracking or cupping.
Myanmar Teak vs Plantation Teak
Myanmar (Burma) teak has historically been considered the gold standard, with the slow-grown trees from the dry deciduous forests of the Bago Yoma region producing wood with especially tight grain, high oil content, and deep golden-brown colouration. A 60-to-80-year rotation produces logs with significant heartwood proportion and the dense grain that boatbuilders prize. However, Myanmar teak has been subject to EU and US sanctions regimes at various points due to political concerns, complicating legal sourcing. The European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR) and subsequent EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) require rigorous due diligence documentation for any Myanmar teak entering European markets.
Plantation teak, grown primarily in Indonesia (particularly Java), Costa Rica, Panama, Brazil, and across tropical Africa (Tanzania, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire), offers a legal and traceable alternative. Plantation teak typically rotates on 20-to-30-year cycles, producing smaller-diameter logs with a higher proportion of sapwood and lighter colour than old-growth material. The shorter rotation results in lower natural oil content, though plantation teak from drier sites in Latin America and Africa often produces quality comparable to mid-grade Asian sources.
Perum Perhutani, the Indonesian state forestry enterprise, manages over 500,000 hectares of teak plantations on Java, making it one of the largest single teak producers globally. Costa Rica has emerged as a significant plantation teak supplier since the 1990s, with companies like Panamerican Woods and Precious Woods managing substantial acreages under FSC certification.
Marine and Outdoor Applications
Teak boat decking remains the species' most iconic application. The Royal Navy documented the superiority of teak for shipbuilding as early as the early 19th century, and the deck of HMS Victory (launched 1765) was planked in teak during its 1814-1816 rebuild. Modern superyacht builders continue to specify teak for decks, cap rails, and exterior joinery, with a single 50-metre yacht consuming 5 to 10 cubic metres of teak for its decks alone.
Outdoor furniture represents the largest volume market for teak globally. The Indonesian city of Jepara, on Java's north coast, has been a centre of teak furniture production since the Dutch colonial era and now supplies major European and American retailers. A typical teak garden bench from Jepara sells at retail for $300 to $800, with premium-grade plantation teak designs commanding significantly more.
In India, teak has been a traditional premium furniture wood and remains widely used for doors, window frames, and interior joinery. The Indian state of Kerala operates significant teak plantations, though domestic demand far exceeds supply, making India a net importer of teak from Myanmar and Africa. Indian government teak auctions at depots like Nilambur and Konni remain an important regional market mechanism.