Below is a list of the 12 most valuable and expensive types of wood in the world. Some of these woods are resistant to pests, endure water, emit pleasant fragrances, and are exceptionally impact-resistant. The trees that produce these woods grow slowly, are picky about soil, and are at risk of extinction.
Purple Heart
Purple Heart wood, also known as violet heartwood, transforms from a brown color to a striking purple when cut. It is a dense wood that is water-resistant and ranks among the top in the world for hardness and durability.
Currently, most of the existing Purple Heart trees are located in the Amazon River basin. The trees can reach heights of 30 to 50 meters (100 – 170 ft) and have trunk diameters of up to 1.5 meters (5 ft).
Bubinga
Bubinga, often referred to as pink rosewood, belongs to the legume family and has the scientific name Kotali. This slow-growing tree is primarily found in Africa. Bubinga wood is red-brown with purple or black streaks, featuring a fine texture that is easy to polish. It is commonly used for making musical instruments and artisanal crafts.
African Blackwood
African Blackwood, scientifically known as Dalbergia melanoxylon, primarily grows along the East African coast, including Tanzania and Mozambique. This wood is usually dark brown, almost black, and is among the hardest and densest types of wood with excellent grain quality.
This wood is extremely rare and is at risk of extinction due to overexploitation. It is often used to make musical instruments, especially guitars.
African Blackwood takes about 60 years to mature into a fully grown tree. Its price typically reaches around 14,000 USD per cubic meter.
Agarwood
Agarwood is known for its unique fragrance, derived from the heartwood of the Aquilaria tree, which originates from tropical forests in Southeast Asia.
Currently, there are about 25 species of Aquilaria trees in the world, but only around 15 are capable of producing agarwood, with Vietnamese agarwood considered the highest quality globally.
According to Business Insider, top-grade agarwood can cost up to 100,000 USD/kg (approximately over 2.3 billion VND). In Vietnam, agarwood is found mainly in Thanh Hoa, Ha Tinh, Nghe An, and Khanh Hoa.
Bocote
Bocote is a valuable wood from the Cordia genus, primarily found in South America and Mexico. This wood features beautiful grain patterns and colors that range from light brown to dark brown as the tree ages.
Bocote is highly fragrant, making it not only suitable for musical instruments and furniture but also commonly refined into essential oils.
Bocote is considered one of the expensive types of wood, with prices reaching up to 30 USD for a 30 cm piece, depending on the quality and size of each board.
Dalbergia
The Dalbergia tree is rare due to its specific soil requirements, which significantly contributes to the high cost of this wood.
Ebony
Ebony wood is jet black, can sink in water, and has a smooth surface. It is often used for crafting luxury furniture and musical instruments such as guitars, pianos, and violins. The trees that produce this wood are currently facing the threat of extinction.
Lignum Vitae
This wood is extremely hard and durable, making it highly sought after. The Lignum Vitae tree grows very slowly, resulting in its rarity.
Sandalwood
Sandalwood emits a fragrant aroma that can help reduce stress. Thus, it is commonly used for essential oil extraction or as an ingredient in perfumes.
Pink Ivory
This wood has a beautiful pink-red color, shines when polished, and is considered as precious as diamonds. Pink Ivory is often used to make cue sticks and artisanal items.
Sandalwood (Sưa)
This type of wood is quite special; when burned, it emits a fragrance similar to agarwood and can be distilled into essential oils like sandalwood. Extracts from sandalwood have properties that reduce swelling, induce sweating, and aid the heart, making them widely used in medicine. In Vietnam, there are several rare sandalwood varieties that are on the verge of extinction due to overexploitation.
Ngoc Am (Agarwood)
According to a renowned wood collector in Vietnam, Ngoc Am has long been regarded as a precious wood used only by royalty. The Chinese have known about Ngoc Am for thousands of years and consider it as valuable as jade. In royal palaces, while red sandalwood is hard as steel with beautiful patterns used for making furniture, Ngoc Am is valued for its enticing fragrance and is often used in the chambers of concubines.
