This commercially important hardwood is reminiscent of mahogany. It is darker in tone and has a distinctive figure, typically applied where figure is important. Sapele is particularly prized for a lustrous iridescence with colours that range from light pink to brown and gold to red. It has interlocked grain, which can make machining somewhat difficult. Demand for sapele increased as a mahogany substitute. It is used in the manufacture of furniture, joinery, veneers, luxury flooring, and boat building.