The global luxury yachting industry is being pushed into a quiet but significant material transition, as environmental concerns, trade sanctions and shrinking supplies force shipbuilders to rethink their long-standing dependence on teak.
Teak has long been the gold standard for yacht interiors and decking, valued for its durability, resistance to salt and rot, and its association with prestige. High-end yachts, including tech entrepreneur Jeff Bezos’s superyacht Koru, delivered in 2023 at an estimated cost of $500 million (around ₹4,150 crore), have traditionally relied on teak for both aesthetics and performance, a report in bbc.com notes.
However, the finest teak comes from old-growth forests in Myanmar, where logging is tightly linked to the country’s military-controlled timber sector. Following the 2021 military coup, the US, UK and European Union imposed sanctions, making Myanmar teak illegal to import.
Despite these restrictions, Myanmar teak has continued to seep into global supply chains, often mislabelled as plantation teak from other tropical regions. This has led to regulatory action. In late 2024, major European yacht builders were fined for the use of sanctioned teak.
India has a long and structured history in teak cultivation, with plantation forestry playing a central role in meeting domestic demand. Teak plantations were first established systematically during the British colonial period, particularly in Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, to support shipbuilding, railways and public works. Today, much of India’s teak supply comes from government-managed forests and regulated private plantations, with harvesting governed by strict forest and transit laws.
Nilambur teak is among the world’s most celebrated hardwoods, prized for its exceptional strength, durability and rich aesthetic appeal. Native to the Nilambur region of Kerala, it comes from India’s oldest scientifically managed teak plantations, established in the 1840s. The wood is naturally resistant to decay, termites and fungal attacks, making it ideal for shipbuilding, high-end furniture and construction.
Traditionally, Nilambur teak has been used in luxury yacht components and in the construction of Kerala’s iconic wooden urus, valued for their seaworthiness and longevity. Centuries of use by traders and shipbuilders have given Nilambur teak strong historical and cultural significance, alongside modern efforts to ensure sustainable forest management.
Against the backdrop of environmental concerns, alternatives are gaining momentum. These include thermally modified woods, engineered teak laminates and fully synthetic decking. Some luxury yacht makers have begun moving away from teak altogether, citing both sustainability concerns and sourcing challenges.
Thermally modified woods, produced by heat-treating fast-growing hardwoods, are increasingly seen as viable substitutes. They replicate teak’s appearance while offering improved thermal performance, lower maintenance and better insulation, reducing cooling needs onboard. Newer products developed in Europe using advanced processing techniques are already being installed on large superyachts.
Synthetic decking has also evolved. Modern PVC-based materials now offer improved heat resistance, colour stability and recyclability, addressing earlier concerns around comfort and environmental impact.
Even so, resistance remains. Many buyers continue to associate real teak with luxury, and some smaller yacht builders still rely on carefully managed plantations in Indonesia and India, confident in their sustainability credentials.
Industry insiders note that broader acceptance of alternatives will depend on a cultural shift among buyers. As awareness grows about deforestation, sanctions and supply risks, the industry appears to be slowly, but steadily, charting a course away from its most prized material.
"The problem for the alternatives is there is nothing quite like real teak," a yacht builder says.