Light Red Meranti

Light Red Meranti

Technical Details (Light Red Meranti)	Value	Unit
Density	480	kg/m³
Janka Hardness Test	2460	N
Bending Strength	77.3	MPa
Modulus of Elasticity	11.39	GPa
Compressive Strength	42.2	MPa
Radial Swelling / Shrinkage	4.1	%
Tangential Swelling / Shrinkage	7.8	%
Volumetric Swelling / Shrinkage	12.6	%

Color / Appearance

The color can vary greatly depending on the species, ranging from straw/light brown to darker reddish-brown.

Grain / Texture

The wood has a coarse texture with medium to large pores. The grain is sometimes twisted.

Decay Resistance

Reported as non-durable in terms of rot resistance and also susceptible to insect attacks.

Odor

No characteristic odor.

Allergies / Toxicity During Processing

Although severe reactions are rare, Meranti (genus Shorea) has been reported to cause irritation to eyes, throat, and skin.

Price / Availability

Meranti is widely harvested and available worldwide. It has a moderate price even when imported.

Sustainability

Meranti is not listed in the CITES appendices, but many Shorea species are on the IUCN Red List. Most Shorea species are critically endangered due to an over 80% population decline in the last three generations, caused by habitat loss and overexploitation.

*Information sourced from Wood Database.