Where India's teak and sheesham really come from
Supply chain, market size in rupees, and a buyer's guide from the woodcarving cluster of Saharanpur.
Key findings
- Sheesham is an Indian timber, grown on Indian land. India's own CITES submission calls it the second most important cultivated timber tree in the country, harvested mostly from planted trees on farms, roadsides and canal banks.
- Teak is still mostly imported nationally, but less than commonly said. We estimate about 74% imported and 26% Indian by volume. The often-quoted "5% domestic" figure is too low; one state corporation alone harvests that much.
- In Saharanpur, the wood chain is local. Wood moves from farmer to middleman to mandi, is sold green, then sawn, seasoned and carved. Most local traders and craftsmen report no imported species in the market.
- Teak furniture is worth about ₹10,400 crore and sheesham furniture about ₹3,500 crore (2025 estimates). Together they are about 16% of India's roughly ₹86,500 crore solid-wood furniture market.
- Sheesham remains on CITES Appendix II. Exports roughly halved after the 2017 listing. The 2022 conference eased rules for small finished items.
Domestic or imported?
The answer depends on the species. Sheesham is practically all Indian. Teak is mostly imported at the national level, though Indian teak is a larger share than official figures suggest.
Where the teak volume comes from
| Source | Volume, lakh m³ a year | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Imported logs and sawn teak, FY2024-25 | ~8.5 | Derived from TradeStat import values at ITTO port prices |
| State forest corporations and depots | 1.2–1.5 | FDCM (Maharashtra) alone ~0.5; Kerala, MP and others |
| Farm and other trees outside forests | 1.0–4.5 | Largely unrecorded; ACIAR and Down To Earth estimates |
| Indian total (central) | ~3.0 | Estimate |
Why the national teak figure is lower than often quoted
India dominates the world's teak trade. In 2022 it imported 9.54 lakh m³ of teak logs and 3.57 lakh m³ of sawn teak, about 97% of global teak log trade (IUFRO/TEAKNET). Imports have since eased. Official trade data show teak log imports worth ₹2,756 crore in FY2024-25, which at port prices of about ₹42,000 per m³ is roughly 6.5 lakh m³.
On the domestic side, a widely cited ITTO study puts India's own teak at only 50,000 m³, or 5% of demand (Kant & Nautiyal). Yet the Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra alone harvests about 50,000 m³ a year, mostly teak. Kerala's depots sold over 23,000 m³ of timber and teak poles in 2022-23, and Madhya Pradesh auctions its prized "CP teak" as far as Delhi. Farm teak is the biggest unknown: an agroforestry analysis in Down To Earth implies 40% of teak logs are Indian. Maharashtra removed teak from its regulated-species list in June 2026, which should bring more farm teak to market.
India's Economic Advisory Council notes that over 93% of the country's domestic timber comes from trees outside forests, and that India keeps no central database of timber production (EAC-PM, 2024). That is why every national teak split, including ours, is an estimate.
From green log to carved piece
Saharanpur's workshops rarely buy finished timber. They buy wood that has been sold wet, sawn and seasoned by others, or season it themselves.
Farms, canal banks, roadsides
Western UP, Haryana and Uttarakhand. India counted 7.58 crore sheesham trees outside forests in 2021.
State forest depots
UP Forest Corporation auctions, Uttarakhand FDC e-auctions near Dehradun, and MP "CP teak" lots sold in Delhi.
Ports and traders
Logs land green at Kandla, Mundra and Tuticorin from West Africa and Latin America, then move through Gujarat, Delhi and Yamunanagar traders.
Middleman & mandi
Logs collected from farmers and depots reach the lakdi mandi or Yamunanagar.
- Sold wet
Green sale
Logs and sawn "chiraan" are sold green, priced by volume in cu ft.
Sawmill
Logs are cut to planks and blocks for furniture and carving stock.
Seasoning
Mostly air-dried in North India's dry heat; some units kiln-dry. Badly seasoned wood cracks and warps.
Workshop
Carving, joinery, finishing. Pieces go to Indian homes, retailers and exporters.
of Saharanpur brokers, traders, manufacturers and craftsmen surveyed said imported wood species were absent from the local market. Brokers ranked demand as mango, then sheesham, then poplar (Dubey, Singh & Mishra).
Where ground experience and trade data meet
Both pictures are true. Sheesham, mango and poplar in Saharanpur are essentially all Indian, and the chain from wet timber to seasoned carving stock works exactly as local traders describe. Teak is different because it is one species wherever it grows. A Ghana or Brazil teak log arrives green, is sawn in Gujarat or a northern mandi, and is resold as sawn teak. Yamunanagar sellers list "Ghana teak" and "Colombian teak" beside "CP MP teak", while Saharanpur sellers list "UP teak" and "desi teak".
Our view: Saharanpur's teak is a mix, plausibly with a higher Indian share than the national 26%, because UP and Uttarakhand depots and farm teak are close by. No dataset measures this yet. A survey of local timber traders is the next step.
What the furniture is worth
India's furniture market was worth ₹2.21–2.67 lakh crore in 2025, depending on the research firm. Wood is about 60% of it, and solid wood about half of that.
Steady growth of about 6.5% a year
Both markets grew at a similar pace between 2021 and 2026. Teak's rupee growth is partly a weaker rupee raising the cost of imported logs.
Show data table
| Year | Teak, ₹ cr | YoY | Sheesham, ₹ cr | YoY | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,100 | – | 2,700 | – | Post-COVID recovery; sheesham exports held back by CITES |
| 2022 | 8,800 | +8.6% | 2,860 | +5.9% | Teak imports peak; CITES relief in November |
| 2023 | 9,350 | +6.3% | 3,120 | +9.1% | Sheesham export recovery |
| 2024 | 9,800 | +4.8% | 3,300 | +5.8% | Teak log import value fell 11% in FY2023-24 |
| 2025 | 10,400 | +6.1% | 3,500 | +6.1% | Anchor year |
| 2026 (proj.) | 11,100 | +6.7% | 3,710 | +6.0% | Projection: Maharashtra teak deregulation; weaker rupee |
Two woods, two kinds of buyer
Teak sits at the premium end for its stability and natural oils. Sheesham is the traditional choice for carved, dense, hard-wearing furniture at a lower price.
| Attribute | Teak (sagwan) | Sheesham (Indian rosewood) |
|---|---|---|
| Main origin | ~74% imported nationally (estimate); Indian CP and Nilambur teak at the top end | ~100% Indian farm, canal and roadside trees |
| Durability | Natural oils; excellent resistance to termites and moisture; dimensionally stable | Hard, dense heartwood; good termite resistance; can move if poorly seasoned |
| Timber price | ₹700–4,500 per cu ft | ₹1,200–1,800 per cu ft, seasoned |
| Best for | Premium homes, heirloom pieces, doors, outdoor and humid rooms | Carved and traditional furniture, dining and bedroom sets, export handicrafts |
| Share of solid-wood market | ~12% by value | ~4% by value |
How we estimated the numbers
No research firm or government body publishes teak or sheesham furniture sales for India. We built each figure from timber supply and checked it against the published size of the solid-wood furniture market.
× 40% used in furniture
× 60% sawn recovery
= 2.76 lakh m³ = 97.5 lakh cu ft
× ₹3,000 per cu ft seasoned
= ₹2,924 crore of timber
÷ 28% timber share of retail price
= ≈ ₹10,400 crore
Cross-check: 10–15% of ₹86,460 crore
= ₹8,650–12,970 crore
trees above 30 cm, ~0.9 m³ each)
× 55% used in furniture and crafts
× 50% heartwood recovery
= 1.1 lakh m³ = 38.8 lakh cu ft
× ₹1,500 per cu ft seasoned
= ₹583 crore of timber
÷ 18% timber share (carving is labour-heavy)
= ≈ ₹3,240 crore
Cross-check: 4–7% of ₹86,460 crore = ₹3,460–6,050 crore. Central figure set at ₹3,500 crore.
Sensitivity
- Changing teak's timber share of retail price from 18% to 38% moves the teak estimate across ₹7,700–16,200 crore.
- A sheesham harvest of 2.5–6 lakh m³ gives ₹2,000–4,900 crore.
- Timber price per cu ft and the share of teak used in furniture rather than doors and windows are the next biggest swing factors.
Limitations
- India publishes no reliable domestic timber production statistics.
- FY2022-25 import figures are values from TradeStat republished by a third party; volumes are derived using port price proxies.
- "Teak finish" products, often sheesham or engineered wood, inflate apparent teak demand at retail. These estimates count genuine timber only.
- Retail values include GST and trade margins.
Exchange rates. Sources reported in US dollars were converted at each year's average rate: 2021 ₹73.92, 2022 ₹78.61, 2023 ₹82.60, 2024 ₹83.68, 2025 ₹87.16, 2026 about ₹93 (estimate). Units. 1 m³ = 35.31 cu ft; 1 lakh = 100,000; 1 crore = 100 lakh.
A protected craft under pressure
Saharanpur Wood Craft is a registered Geographical Indication and the district's One District One Product. EPCH pegs the carving industry at about ₹400 crore a year, supporting around 1.5 lakh artisans.
- 2014GI certificate
Saharanpur Wood Craft, application no. 184, certified 31 March 2014.
- 2017CITES listing
All Dalbergia, including sheesham, enter Appendix II on 2 January.
- 2018ODOP
Wood carving named Saharanpur's product under UP's ODOP scheme.
- 2019CoP18
India's proposal to delist sheesham rejected; exemptions revised.
- 2022CoP19
Delisting rejected again; relief for finished items under 10 kg of wood.
- 2025CoP20
India again seeks removal. No delisting recorded.
The CITES listing hit exporters hard. According to EPCH figures cited in India's CoP19 proposal, sheesham furniture and handicraft exports fell from about ₹1,000 crore a year to ₹500–600 crore after 2017. A 2026 ETV Bharat report says Saharanpur's own export earnings, once close to ₹1,000 crore, have fallen below ₹500 crore amid cancelled orders and 20–30% higher costs. Sheesham itself is not endangered: India's submission describes it as abundant in cultivation, and the listing exists because rosewoods look alike. Exporters ship sheesham goods under EPCH's VRIKSH timber-legality certification.
For buyers in India, the result is a domestic market with a deep pool of skilled carvers and Indian-grown timber, at prices well below export retail.
How to tell real teak or sheesham from "teak finish"
On major online platforms, many beds sold as "teak" list sheesham as the main wood, with "teak" describing only the colour of the stain. Five checks protect you.
- Get the species on the invoice
"Teak finish" or "teak colour" means a stain, not teak. Ask for the wood named in writing.
- Look at the end grain and underside
Veneer edges and particleboard cores show up on hidden faces and drawer sides.
- Feel the weight
Solid teak and sheesham are heavy. Hollow-sounding panels are not solid.
- Ask for a moisture reading
Export makers commonly work at 8–12%. Wet wood cracks and warps in the first dry winter.
- Ask where the timber came from
A good maker can tell you the source and how long the wood was seasoned.
Woodstocks Enterprises: made in Saharanpur, open about our wood
We are a Saharanpur workshop making custom solid teak and sheesham furniture, both hand-carved and modern. This research is the standard we hold ourselves to: every piece comes with its species, source and seasoning stated.
Our sheesham is farm-grown wood bought at the Saharanpur lakdi mandi. Our teak is Indian CP teak from Madhya Pradesh. We name the species on every invoice.
We kiln-dry our timber and check every board with a moisture meter. Target: 8–12% moisture content.
Mortise-and-tenon joints throughout. No MDF, particleboard or veneer over board, ever.
Send a sketch or a photo. We quote in solid wood, with the species named on the invoice.
WhatsApp: +91 90451 09018 · Workshop: Street No. 33, Faisal Town, near Muzaffari Masjid, Khatakheri, Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh 247001, India
Frequently asked questions
How big is the teak furniture market in India?
About ₹10,400 crore in 2025 by our estimate, within a range of ₹7,000–15,000 crore. No official figure exists.
How big is the sheesham furniture market in India?
About ₹3,500 crore in 2025 by our estimate, within a range of ₹2,000–6,000 crore, including ₹500–600 crore of exports.
Is India's teak imported or Indian?
Nationally about 74% is imported by volume (estimate, range 55–85%). Indian teak comes from state forest corporations in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and other states, and from farms. In North India, nearby UP and Uttarakhand depots and farm teak raise the local share.
Is Indian teak better than imported teak?
Mature Indian forest teak, such as CP and Nilambur teak, commands the highest prices. Fast-grown plantation teak from anywhere varies in quality, so judge the plank, not the label.
Is sheesham endangered?
No. India's CITES submission says it is not threatened and is found abundantly in cultivation. It is listed because rosewood species look alike.
Why is timber bought wet and seasoned locally?
Green timber is cheaper, and the buyer controls the drying. Seasoning takes time and skill, and it decides whether the finished piece stays stable.
Is sheesham cheaper than teak?
Usually, by timber price per cu ft. Heavy carving can make a sheesham piece cost as much as a plain teak one.
What is the GST on wooden furniture?
18% for wooden furniture under HSN 9403, unchanged by the September 2025 GST reform. Confirm specific handicraft items with a tax adviser.
CitationHow to cite this researchAPA · MLA · Chicago · BibTeX
You are welcome to quote these figures with attribution. Please cite the estimates as estimates.
Woodstocks Enterprises. (2026, October 13). Teak & Sheesham Report 2026: Supply chain, market size and a buyer's guide from Saharanpur (Market Note 01). https://www.woodstocksenterprises.com/research/teak-sheesham-report-2026
Permanent link: https://www.woodstocksenterprises.com/research/teak-sheesham-report-2026. Quote a figure as an estimate, with its range where one is given.
SourcesEverything this report draws on27 sources
- IUFRO/TEAKNET, Global Teak Resources and Market Assessment 2022
- Kant & Nautiyal, India Timber Supply and Demand 2010–2030 (ITTO)
- ITTO project proposal PD 933/23, India
- TradeStat via BUSY Infotech, HS 44034200 teak logs
- TradeStat via BUSY Infotech, HS 44072300 sawn teak
- ITTO Tropical Timber Market Report, March 2025
- ITTO Tropical Timber Market Report, June 2024
- Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra
- Kerala Forest Statistics 2022-23
- Down To Earth, What is crippling India's teak plantations
- EAC-PM, Working Paper on Agroforestry (2024)
- CITES CoP19 Proposal 47, Dalbergia sissoo
- CITES CoP20 document 104
- ANI, Relief for handicraft exporters at CoP19
- EPCH VRIKSH certification FAQs
- FAO, Dalbergia sissoo profile
- Dubey, Singh & Mishra, Saharanpur wood handicraft raw-material study
- EPCH, Saharanpur project profile
- One District One Product, Saharanpur
- IP India GI Registry, application 184
- ETV Bharat, Saharanpur wood-carving industry (2026)
- Mordor Intelligence, India Wood Furniture Market
- IMARC Group, India Furniture Market
- Persistence Market Research, India Furniture Market
- UP Forest Corporation e-auction
- Uttarakhand FDC e-auction
- IndiaMART, Yamunanagar teak log listings