Author: Le Van Thang, Director of ICD Vietnam – 15 years supplying export packaging.
Pressed wood pallets are moulded from compressed wood fibre and resin under heat and pressure, producing a light, nestable, one-piece pallet. Because the wood is processed (not raw sawn timber), they are ISPM-15 exempt – no fumigation and no IPPC stamp needed for export, just like plastic but at a lower cost. ICD supplies them at 800×600, 1100×1100, 1200×800 and 1200×1000 mm, weighing only 5-9 kg, with dynamic load 500-1,000 kg and static load up to 2,500 kg. For repeated heavy use see sawn wooden pallets or plastic pallets.
Choose pressed wood pallets when:
- One-way export of light goods: ISPM-15 exempt and cheap enough to send and not recover.
- Air or sea freight where weight is billed: 5-9 kg versus 20+ kg for sawn wood cuts chargeable weight.
- Tight empty storage: nestable design collapses many units into little height.
1. Pressed wood pallet specifications
| Size (mm) | Weight | Dynamic | Static | ISPM-15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 800×600 | 3-5 kg | 500 kg | 1,250 kg | Exempt |
| 1100×1100 | 6-9 kg | 800-1,000 kg | 2,500 kg | Exempt |
| 1200×1000 | 7-9 kg | 1,000 kg | 2,500 kg | Exempt |
Moulded compressed wood fibre. Nestable for empty storage and return.
2. Two advantages sawn wood cannot match
ISPM-15 exemption. ISPM-15 targets raw wood that can harbour pests. Pressed wood is manufactured under heat and pressure, so it is classified as processed wood and is exempt – no HT or MB treatment, no IPPC stamp, no certificate, no border hold over a pallet. That puts it alongside plastic for export compliance, but at a lower price.
Weight. A pressed wood pallet weighs 5-9 kg against 20+ kg for an equivalent sawn-wood pallet. On air freight and volumetric sea freight where weight is billed, that difference multiplies across every pallet in every container – often the single biggest saving on a light-goods export lane. The trade-off is load and reuse: pressed wood is best for one-way trips with lighter loads; for heavy or repeated use, choose sawn wooden pallets or reusable plastic pallets.
3. Frequently asked questions
1. Are pressed wood pallets really ISPM-15 exempt?
Yes – processed/manufactured wood is exempt under the IPPC, so no fumigation, stamp or certificate is required for export.
2. How much lighter are they?
5-9 kg versus 20+ kg for sawn wood, which cuts chargeable weight on air and volumetric sea freight.
3. What load can they carry?
Dynamic 500-1,000 kg and static up to 2,500 kg, depending on size. Best for lighter, one-way loads.
4. Are they reusable?
They tolerate a few trips but are designed for one-way export and light internal use. For repeated heavy cycles, use sawn wood or plastic.
4. Related pages
| Wooden Pallets (5 Timbers, EPAL) | Pressed vs Traditional Wood Pallet | Export Plastic Pallets |
5. Contact and pressed wood pallet quotes
ICD Vietnam Industrial Manufacturing Co., Ltd
Northern Vietnam: Floor 3, Thang Long A1 Building, Thon Bau, Thien Loc, Hanoi – 0983 797 186 / 090 345 9186 / 090 5859 186
Southern Vietnam: 551/212 Le Van Khuong, Tan Thoi Hiep, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City – 098 6784 186
Email: sales@icdvietnam.com.vn
Zalo: Chat on Zalo
VAT invoice – In stock – Nationwide delivery 24-48h – ISPM-15 exempt for export
