What okoume is
Okoume (also called gaboon) is a West/Central African hardwood with a pale, even grain. It is light, low in density and very smooth, which makes it easy to nail, easy to print and easy to lift — the reasons it is a favourite face for export packing cases and lightweight panels. It is also used as a core in lightweight marine and aircraft-grade plywood.
What gurjan is
Gurjan (keruing) is a dense Southeast-Asian hardwood. It is heavier, harder and stronger, with excellent screw-holding — the reasons it is used for structural plywood, heavy-duty crates and as the core for container flooring boards.
Okoume vs gurjan at a glance
| Attribute | Okoume (gaboon) | Gurjan (keruing) |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | West / Central Africa | Southeast Asia |
| Density | Low (~400–450 kg/m³) | High (~700–800 kg/m³) |
| Weight | Light | Heavy |
| Strength | Moderate | High |
| Surface | Smooth, pale, paintable | Coarser, reddish |
| Best for | Packing cases, lightweight panels, marine cores | Structural ply, container flooring, heavy crates |
For packing cases, weight wins
Packing-case makers and exporters usually favour okoume because a lighter panel cuts the dead weight of every case — which lowers air-freight and volumetric charges — while the smooth face takes branding and stencils cleanly. Where a case must carry heavy machinery and take structural load, a gurjan-based panel or a solid-wood frame does the lifting instead.
See okoume packing plywood for grades and sizes, or container flooring plywood for the gurjan-cored board.