Ipe Decking in the CITES Era: Prices, Availability, and the Best Alternatives to Ipe and Cumaru

If you’re planning a hardwood deck with Ipe or Cumaru, you’ve probably heard the news: both species are now listed under CITES Appendix II. That sounds technical and political (because it is), but for you, it boils down to three big questions:

  • Can I still get Ipe decking?
  • What will Ipe decking prices look like over the next few years?
  • If I can’t get Ipe or Cumaru, what are the best alternatives that actually perform?

In this article, I’ll break down what’s really happening with Ipe decking, how we got here, and which Ipe alternatives make sense in the real world—not just on paper. I’ll also show you how to plan your project so you’re not caught off guard by backorders or surprise price jumps, and where you can still shop Ipe decking from a supplier that planned ahead.

Along the way, I’ll link to a bunch of deeper resources—videos, guides, and articles—so you can dig in wherever you want more detail.

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What CITES Appendix II Really Means for Ipe Decking Buyers

First, a quick reset on the terminology.

CITES stands for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. It’s a global agreement between 180+ countries meant to prevent over-exploitation of plants and animals.

Species get grouped into three appendices:

  • Appendix I – the strictest level, trade is heavily restricted or nearly banned.
  • Appendix II – trade is still allowed, but requires export permits, tighter controls, and traceability.
  • Appendix III – the lightest level of oversight.

Recently, Ipe (Handroanthus spp.) and Cumaru (Dipteryx spp.) were moved up from Appendix III to Appendix II, which means more paperwork, more inspections, and more delays, but not a ban on Ipe or Cumaru.

Most species regulated by CITES actually live in Appendix II, including mahogany. Ipe and Cumaru are now in that same bucket: legal, but closely watched.

If you want to understand the bigger sustainability story behind Ipe—how legal logging can protect forested land instead of destroying it—take a look at:

How We Got Here: Ipe Decking Price & Supply Timeline

If you’ve been watching Ipe decking prices for a while, the current volatility didn’t appear out of nowhere. Here’s the short version of what I covered in the Summer 2025 market update:

Pre-COVID (up to about 2020)

  • Ipe supply was relatively stable.
  • Pricing moved within a normal range.
  • Contractors could plan large Ipe projects with predictable costs.

Early COVID (2020–2021)

  • Global shipping took a hit, but for a while Ipe pricing didn’t explode yet.
  • Demand shifted in weird ways, but the Ipe market hadn’t fully absorbed the shock.

Late COVID / Supply Chain Crunch (2021–2022)

  • Eventually, COVID hammered Ipe’s supply chain.
  • Freight issues, container shortages, and port congestion drove Ipe prices sharply upward.
  • Lead times stretched out, and many suppliers started running light on inventory.

2023–2024: Settling… But at a Higher “Normal”

  • Conditions eased up compared to peak COVID chaos.
  • Prices pulled back slightly but stayed significantly above pre-COVID levels.
  • Most people realized: the old “cheap Ipe” days weren’t coming back.
Ipe Decking market update infographic showing rising prices from pre-COVID to post-CITES.

Post-CITES Era (Late 2024–2026)

When Ipe and Cumaru were up-listed to Appendix II, the market took another hit:

  • Export permits are now required and scrutinized.
  • Inspections at Brazilian ports are tighter and slower.
  • Some exporters simply opted out of the extra bureaucracy.
  • We estimate that up to 80–90% of previous Ipe suppliers may stop exporting Ipe and possibly Cumaru.
  • Many domestic suppliers already ran out, and backorders have piled up across the U.S.

To make things more fun, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has also been causing delays and extra demurrage fees on many hardwood shipments (not officially tied to CITES, but it all compounds the pain).

The result: Ipe prices and availability are volatile now and likely will remain that way into 2026.

Will Ipe Decking Prices Ever Go Back to “Normal”?

In a word: no.

We don’t expect Ipe pricing to return to pre-COVID levels. Instead, the market is working its way toward a new, higher baseline—a “new normal” for Ipe decking prices.

That doesn’t mean Ipe is a bad value. Far from it. If you look at the service life of a properly installed Ipe decking system—often 40+ years—the lifecycle cost is still extremely competitive versus composites and softwoods.

But it does mean:

  • You can’t assume Ipe will be available “like it always was.”
  • You should lock in materials earlier in your design process.
  • It’s smart to consider backup species options in case Ipe or Cumaru lead times explode right when you’re ready to build.

If you’re ready to price a project with current market numbers, you can go directly to:

Strong Alternatives to Ipe and Cumaru That Aren’t Affected by CITES

Here’s the part everyone wants to know: if I can’t get Ipe or Cumaru, what should I use instead?

In both the video and our Summer 2025 newsletter, we spotlighted several standout alternatives: Brown Balau, Garapa, Purpleheart, and Massaranduba.

You can explore them in detail on our species pages:

Let’s look at when each one shines.

Brown Balau: The Closest Match to Ipe

If you want something that looks and behaves a lot like Ipe, Brown Balau is usually our first recommendation.

  • Appearance: Rich brown color, similar natural range to Ipe.
  • Density: High density and durability, with excellent structural performance.
  • Stability: Very good stability in most climates when properly installed.
  • Supply: Comes from Southeast Asia, not Brazil, and is not currently listed on CITES.

We also filmed a full Brown Balau video that covers performance, appearance, and use cases, so you can see it in real projects and get a feel for the color and grain.

Brown Balau hardwood deck under patio cover.

Garapa: Golden, Strong, and Surprisingly Cost-Effective

Garapa decking doesn’t get the same buzz as Ipe or Cumaru, but it probably should.

  • Appearance: Warm, golden-yellow tone that weathers beautifully to a soft silver if left unoiled.
  • Strength: High strength and durability; it’s a true hardwood, not a second-tier option.
  • Cost: Historically more cost-effective than Ipe while still offering long service life.
  • Future-proof: In our view, Garapa is one of the most promising “future” species as the market leans away from heavily regulated species.

See real-world Garapa projects in the Garapa photo gallery for color, grain, and design inspiration.

Garapa hardwood deck on a coastal balcony.

Purpleheart: Bold Color, Serious Density

If you want a deck that makes a statement, Purpleheart decking is a fantastic option.

  • Appearance: Starts out a vivid purple, then slowly mellows into richer browns with time and UV exposure.
  • Density: Extremely dense, in the same league as Ipe when it comes to strength and durability.
  • Best use cases: Great when you want a bolder look that still has top-tier performance.

You can see the full color progression and project examples in the Purpleheart photo gallery.

Purpleheart hardwood deck overlooking mountains.

Massaranduba: Powerful but Condition-Sensitive

Massaranduba can be a strong choice in the right conditions. Check out the Massaranduba decking page for species details.

What you need to know:

  • Appearance: Reddish-brown tone, very attractive when oiled.
  • Strength & durability: Excellent—on paper, it’s a beast.
  • Caution: It’s very important that Massaranduba be properly and slowly kiln-dried, and that you match it to installation conditions that suit its movement tendencies. If those two boxes aren’t checked, you can run into issues with movement and checking.

We’ve learned over the last couple of decades that careful sourcing and correct installation conditions are the keys to making Massaranduba perform long-term.

Massaranduba hardwood deck with red-brown finish.

Why We Don’t Recommend Red Balau and Jatoba as “Universal” Replacements

Some in the industry have suggested Red Balau and Jatoba as broad replacements for Ipe and Cumaru. We aren’t fully on board with that.

  • Red Balau: In carefully chosen conditions, it can work. But in heavy sun exposure, movement and checking can become a problem.
  • Jatoba: Incredible hardwood in some applications, but as an exterior decking species, we’ve simply not seen the dimensional stability needed across real-world projects. After watching people try to make it “the next big thing” for 20+ years, we don’t believe Jatoba is the direction the hardwood decking market is going.

Matching Species to Real-World Conditions (Airflow, Sun, and Fasteners)

Whether you choose Ipe decking or one of the alternatives, performance is about more than just the species name. Conditions matter:

  • Airflow under the deck
  • Sun exposure (full sun vs. shade)
  • Roof coverage
  • Fastening system (surface screw vs. hidden clips vs. undermount)
  • Drainage and water management

To make sense of all that, we created a full video and chart on scoring hardwoods by exterior conditions:

  • Scoring Hardwoods – Video – where I walk through what I jokingly call my “big ugly green chart,” matching species and fastening methods to airflow/sunlight conditions.

If you’re wrestling with cupping, drainage, or under-deck systems, don’t miss:

And once you’ve picked a species, you’ll want to choose fasteners that match:

Don’t Forget the Framing: Heritage vs. Standard Treated Pine

In today’s environment, it doesn’t make sense to put premium hardwood decking on commodity framing that may fail first.

That’s why we strongly recommend pairing Ipe and other premium hardwoods with Heritage Premium Framing Lumber instead of standard treated pine.

Heritage offers:

  • Higher preservative retention and stronger protection against rot.
  • Use categories and specs that better match the lifespan of hardwood decking.
  • Better grade quality compared to common framing stock.

You can dig into the tech details here:

If your decking will last 30–40 years, your framing should be designed to match.

Planning Your Project in the New Ipe Market

Given the current CITES-driven reality, here’s how to plan a project so you’re not blindsided:

1. Decide Whether You Truly Need Ipe

Start with the Ipe Decking page to understand the species, see photos, and get a sense of where Ipe really shines.

If your project absolutely requires Ipe’s look and performance, move to locking in material early. If you have flexibility, compare:

2. Use Tools That Factor in Your Conditions

Run your project through the Decking Wizard to get a project-specific report based on airflow, coverage, sun exposure, and fastening preference.

You can also step up your knowledge with:

  • Ipe Certified Course – a full training program on Ipe behavior, installation, maintenance, and airflow best practices.

3. Learn From Other People’s Ipe Deck Problems

Before you finalize your design, it’s worth seeing what can go wrong—and how to avoid it:

Two more big design decisions that affect cost and performance:

4. Lock In Material Early

Because Ipe prices and availability will likely remain volatile into 2026, it’s smart to secure your lumber sooner rather than later.

You can:

  • Shop Ipe decking online to see what’s in stock right now.
  • Call the warehouse at 770-242-0045 or use the Contact page for direct help on species selection, board sizes, and matching accessories.

Why Brazilian Wood Depot Is Still a Safe Place to Buy Ipe Decking

While many U.S. suppliers have run out of Ipe and are buried in backorders, Brazilian Wood Depot prepared for this moment.

Here’s what that means for you:

  • We maintain long-term relationships with CITES-compliant suppliers.
  • We’ve invested in one of the largest Ipe inventories in the United States, so you’re not left hunting for scraps at the last minute.
  • Our Shipping program and damage-free guarantee mean the material we crate and send arrives ready to install.
  • You can explore recent shipments and transparency in Recent Orders and see why people choose us in Why Choose Us and Customer Testimonials.

If you want visual inspiration before pulling the trigger, check out:

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