If you run a furniture retail or import business, you likely know that Indonesian teak furniture has long been regarded as the king of hardwoods. It’s durable, beautiful, and easy to sell, but also increasingly expensive. Over the past few years, many global retailers have found themselves in a difficult position: their customers still want the teak look, but not at the teak price.
Here’s the good news: there’s a “hidden gem” from Indonesia called Sungkai wood that delivers the same elegant appeal, with lighter tones, stable supply, and far better profit potential.
In this article, as an Indonesian furniture supplier specializing in Sungkai wood dining chairs, you’ll learn why more global retailers and wholesalers are shifting to Sungkai dining chairs as a smart alternative strategy, and how this move can directly increase your business margin while keeping your product line stylish and competitive.
Teak’s Prestige Comes with a Price, and a Profit Problem
For decades, teak has been the gold standard of Indonesian furniture, admired for its strength, beauty, and timeless appeal. But there’s a growing issue: teak’s rising cost. Global demand, export restrictions, and limited plantation supply have driven prices up by more than 25% in recent years.
For retailers and wholesalers, that means tighter margins and smaller profit room, especially in mid-range markets where price competition is intense.
Even if teak continues to symbolize premium quality, the question is simple: How long can your business sustain those shrinking margins?
That’s where the smart alternative strategy comes in, exploring materials that deliver similar elegance and durability, but at a more profitable cost.
Related reading: Teak or Sungkai: The Truth About Choosing Dining Furniture
Meet Sungkai, Indonesia’s Hidden Gem in the Global Furniture Market
Sungkai wood (Peronema canescens) might not be as globally famous as teak, but it’s been quietly transforming modern furniture collections.
Locally known as “White Teak”, Sungkai offers a light golden hue, straight grain, and a clean aesthetic that fits perfectly with Japandi, Scandinavian, and coastal interiors, three of today’s most popular retail design trends.
Even better, Sungkai grows abundantly across Sumatra, Java, and Sulawesi. That means supply is stable, lead times are shorter, and costs are more predictable, a critical factor for buyers who manage seasonal stock cycles.
Learn more: Furniture Buyers: Don’t Buy Sungkai Wood Before Reading This
4 Business Reasons Why Sungkai Dining Chairs Outperform Teak
Field insight, buyer visit October 2025: a prospective buyer visited our factory for the first time while searching for trusted Indonesian furniture manufacturers specialized in Sungkai wood. They were explicitly evaluating long-term partners for ongoing collections. They said the market is not good, what matters now is to sell fast at the most competitive price.
Indoor demand remains stable in 2025, so he looked for Sungkai as an alternative. Tehir customers do not really care about the exact wood species, as long as it is for indoor use and the finish is light. He even asked us to prepare three coordinated collections at once, covering dining chairs, occasional chairs, coffee tables, side tables, and pots.
1. Market fit in 2025, quick sell‑through at competitive tags
When overall furniture demand softens, indoor categories still move steadily. Sungkai lets you price dining chairs more competitively than teak while keeping a premium look, helping your SKUs turn faster without discounting wars.
2. Price to style ratio, your customers buy the look, not the wood species
Retail shoppers evaluate the design and the ticket price first. Sungkai delivers the light, clean finish that Japandi and Scandinavian buyers want, with consistent color and grain, so you can meet style expectations without the teak price ceiling.
3. Collection building, lift basket size with coordinated SKUs
Because Sungkai machines and finishes easily, you can launch matching lines beyond the dining chair, for example, occasional chairs, coffee tables, side tables, and pots. This coherence simplifies merchandising, raises average order value, and supports visual storytelling in-store and online.
4. Margin and velocity, supported by a reliable Indonesian supply
Sungkai’s availability in Indonesia, KD-friendly construction, and lighter shipping weight reduce landed cost and logistics friction. The result is a healthier gross margin and faster replenishment, which are critical when cash cycles tighten.
Because the 2025 market is price sensitive, the prospective buyer asked us to build the collections in KD format to maximize container loadability. More units per 40′ HC directly lowers freight cost per unit and supports sharper retail tags.
Quick proof & AOV tip: Buyers who switch to Sungkai often cite cost-efficiency, faster lead time, design flexibility, and visual consistency as their main reasons. Turning these strengths into coordinated collections (for example: dining chair + occasional chair + coffee table + side table + pot) helps raise average order value (AOV) and speeds sell‑through without heavy discounting. See examples here: Top 7 Sungkai Wood Dining Furniture and the AOV playbook for living spaces in Boost Sales with Sungkai Wood Living Room Furniture Sets.
Featured Example, Modern Sungkai Wood Dining Chair Collection
From the Wishbone Dining Chair to the Minimalist Ladder Back and Venta Arm Chair, each Sungkai wood dining chair reflects timeless craftsmanship and modern simplicity, handcrafted in our in-house factory by one of the top Indonesian furniture suppliers using kiln-dried wood and precision joinery.
Explore more: Top 7 Sungkai Wood Dining Furniture and All Indoor Sungkai Wood Dining Chair from MPP Furniture
Build Your Profitable Sungkai Dining Collection with MPP
If you are looking for the best Indonesian furniture manufacturer for Sungkai wood furniture, MPP is the partner you want. We combine expertly handcrafted work with precise machining, 100% in-house production, and SVLK-verified legal wood.
One-Stop OEM and Private Label Service
Whether you’re building a new mid-range catalog or expanding an existing one, MPP offers full OEM and private label services, from concept sketches to ready-to-ship products.
Free Product Development and Design Consultation
You can request custom designs, test prototypes, or explore the hybrid Sungkai–rattan series without paying additional R&D fees.
Reliable Manufacturer & Long-Term Partner
With decades of export experience, MPP supports retailers and importers across the US, Europe, and the Middle East with consistent supply, efficient logistics, and transparent communication.
Whether you need a pilot batch or a full coordinated collection, we help you launch faster, price more competitively, and keep quality consistent across every SKU.
A Smart, Profitable, and Sustainable Choice
Short version for busy buyers: Sungkai dining chairs give you the look customers want at a price that protects margin, supported by a stable Indonesian supply and careful craftsmanship.
What to remember:
- Profit: Lower material cost plus KD loadability lets you price sharply while keeping healthy margins.
- Demand: Light, clean finishes fit Japandi and Scandinavian styles that keep selling even in slow markets.
- Operations: 100% in‑house production, SVLK‑verified wood, and responsive project handling cut friction from sampling to shipment.
Next step: if you want a dependable Indonesian partner for Sungkai wood furniture, MPP is ready to help you launch, scale, and win all season.
📞 WhatsApp: +62 821 4630 5858
📩 Email: sales@mppfurniture.com
FAQs
What makes Sungkai better for retailers than teak?
Sungkai offers a similar natural beauty and durability at a much lower cost, allowing retailers to achieve higher profit margins.
How durable are Sungkai dining chairs for daily use?
When kiln-dried and properly finished, Sungkai chairs perform excellently for indoor and semi-outdoor use.
Can Sungkai furniture fit premium catalogues?
Yes. With the right finish and design, Sungkai can be positioned as mid-to-premium, especially in Scandinavian and Japandi collections.
Are solid wood dining chairs worth it?
Absolutely. Solid wood dining chairs, like those made from Sungkai, offer superior durability, longer lifespan, and easier refinishing compared to MDF or veneer options.
How can you tell if a dining chair is good quality?
Check the joinery, finish, and weight. A high-quality dining chair should use solid, kiln-dried wood with precise joinery (like mortise and tenon or dowel joints), a smooth finish, and balanced proportions.
What wood furniture gives the best value for retailers today?
Sungkai wood offers the best value in today’s retail market. It gives the same aesthetic appeal as teak but with lower material and logistics costs, making it the smart alternative for retailers seeking higher margins and faster sell-through.
Hi, I’m Salman, founder of MPP Furniture, an Indonesian furniture manufacturer serving global retailers and project-based clients.
I began my career in my family’s export-oriented furniture company, gaining hands-on experience in production, construction, finishing, material performance, and product development. With a clear understanding of how international buyers evaluate furniture quality and reliability, I founded MPP Furniture to deliver export-ready products with consistent standards.
Here, I share insights from the perspective of a furniture manufacturer working directly with production teams on the factory floor, focusing on manufacturing and supplier evaluation.
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