Pine Timber Group in Vietnam: Decision 2198-CNR, TCVN 12619-2

Reviewed and updated by ICD - Week 43/2026

Pine does not belong to one single group: under Decision 2198-CNR (1977), Krempf’s pine and bamboo pine are in group I, Khasi pine and thong nang in group IV, and Sumatran pine and Masson pine in group V. Under TCVN 12619-2:2019, Khasi pine, Masson pine and Sumatran pine are all in group III. Chinese yew and imported pine timber such as radiata are not named in the 8-group table.

Pine is widely used in furniture and packaging, so the question “which group does pine belong to” comes up often when customers compare materials. The right answer depends on two things: which species of pine is meant, and which classification table the speaker is relying on. This article checks each species against the two official documents, explains what grouping means, and shows how timber group affects pine wood pallets.

What timber grouping means

Grouping timber unifies how wood is named and assessed in trade and in forest product management. Vietnam currently has two parallel classification systems, and they can place the same species in two different groups.

The first is the provisional classification table issued with Decision 2198-CNR of 26 November 1977 of the Ministry of Forestry, applied nationwide from 1 January 1978. It divides natural timber into 8 groups, I to VIII, based on durability, hardness, colour, grain and use value, and was later adjusted by Decision 334-CNR in 1988, which re-ranked some timbers. The second is TCVN 12619-2:2019 (Timber - Classification - Part 2: By physical and mechanical properties), which groups timber by density, static bending strength and compressive strength parallel to the grain.

Grouping has four practical meanings. First, it helps establish economic value: group I contains many precious timbers with excellent durability and colour, and use value falls in the later groups. Second, it supports resource management and harvesting, helping control logging and protect rare timbers. Third, it helps match timber to purpose: the first groups go to high-end furniture, while the common groups go to construction, household goods and packaging. Fourth, it is a reference when pricing timber on the market.

Timber groups and examples under Decision 2198-CNR

The 8-group table of Decision 2198-CNR lists species by name under each group; the examples below were checked against the species list in the document itself.

Group I includes precious timbers such as trac, gu, cam lai, po mu and also Krempf’s pine and bamboo pine; this group is commonly used for high-end furniture, temple architecture and handicrafts. Group II includes heavy, hard timbers such as lim xanh, nghien and sen mat, much used for construction and load-bearing household goods. Group III has teak, sao den and cho chi. Group IV has Khasi pine, thong nang, jackfruit, camphor and re huong: lighter, easy-to-work wood used for ordinary furniture and decorative items.

Groups V to VIII are the common, cheaper timbers, used for products that do not demand high durability such as pallets and crates. Sumatran pine, Masson pine and xa cu are in group V; eucalyptus, xoan ta and xoan dao are in group VI; rubberwood is in group VII. So, although they all carry the name “pine”, the domestic pine species are spread across three different groups.

Which group does pine belong to?

Pine is in group I, IV or V under Decision 2198-CNR depending on the species, and in group III under TCVN 12619-2:2019 for the three commonly planted species; so the exact species name must be established before looking up the group. The table below lists every species carrying the name “pine” in Decision 2198-CNR, together with species that are often called pine by mistake:

Bamboo pine and thong nang carry the name pine but belong to the podocarp family, not the pine genus Pinus. Krempf’s pine and Chinese yew are endangered, precious and rare species in group IIA; for their conservation status, check the list on the national portal for nature conservation and biodiversity. The densities in the TCVN column follow TCVN 12619-2:2019, consistent with our article on pine wood.

1. Chinese yew wood

Chinese yew wood (Taxus chinensis, yew family) is not named in the classification table issued with Decision 2198-CNR, so it cannot be placed in group I or any other group. It is a scarce species listed among endangered, precious and rare forest plants in group IIA, so harvesting and trade are strictly restricted. The species that genuinely carry the name pine in group I of the table are Krempf’s pine (Pinus krempfii) and bamboo pine.

2. White pine and yellow pine

White pine and yellow pine (Pinus spp.) are trade names for pine timber, mostly imported, and are not species names in the classification table of Decision 2198-CNR, so they have no official timber group. In that table, Khasi pine (Pinus khasya) is in group IV, while Sumatran pine (Pinus merkusii) and Masson pine (Pinus massoniana) are in group V. Pine in general is a common timber, easy to work and reasonably priced, a popular choice for furniture, pallets and engineered wood products.

3. Which group is imported pine for pallets in?

Imported pine such as radiata pine, white pine or American pine is not named in the 8-group table, so it has no official timber group; the objective way to compare is by measured density and hardness. Figures from The Wood Database show that imported pine used for pallets is usually lighter and softer than domestic Khasi and Sumatran pine:

Janka hardness is the force needed to press a steel ball 11.28 mm in diameter into the wood to half its diameter. The densities in this table were measured at 12% moisture content according to The Wood Database, so they differ slightly from the figures in TCVN 12619-2:2019 (for example Khasi pine 610 kg/m³ against 0.71 g/cm³); when comparing, use figures from a single source.

The table shows that a higher timber group does not mean wood that resists termites better: Sumatran pine in group V is heavier and harder than Khasi pine in group IV but its natural durability is low. For pallets, both domestic and imported pine must be dried and treated.

4. Does timber group decide pallet quality?

No. The quality of a pine pallet depends on moisture after drying, board section, block spacing and treatment more than on timber group. Precious group I timbers and endangered species such as Chinese yew and Krempf’s pine are not pallet woods.

The ISPM 15 treatment requirement is issued by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and applies to all raw wood packaging, regardless of timber group. ICD Vietnam wooden pallets for export cargo are treated and IPPC-marked under ISPM 15 through a licensed treatment unit.

Conclusion

Pine is in group I, IV or V under Decision 2198-CNR depending on the species, and in group III under TCVN 12619-2:2019; most pine used for pallets is group IV or V pine or imported pine not named in the classification table. Specifically, Krempf’s pine is in group I, rare and on the list of endangered species with restricted harvesting; Khasi pine is in group IV; Sumatran pine and Masson pine are in group V, common timbers that suit everyday use. Chinese yew, white pine and yellow pine are not in the 8-group table; Chinese yew in particular is an endangered, precious and rare species in group IIA.

Classifying timber into groups helps not only consumers and manufacturers understand the value of each wood, but also supports forest resource management and guides prices on the market. Understanding the groups correctly helps choose the right wood for the need and the budget, and contributes to protecting rare timbers in the wild.

Frequently asked questions about pine

1. Which group does pine belong to in the Vietnamese timber classification?

Under Decision 2198-CNR, Krempf’s pine and bamboo pine are in group I, Khasi pine and thong nang in group IV, and Sumatran pine and Masson pine in group V. Under TCVN 12619-2:2019, Khasi pine, Masson pine and Sumatran pine are in group III. Chinese yew and white or yellow pine do not appear in the 8-group table; Chinese yew is an endangered, precious and rare forest plant in group IIA.

2. Is pine a good wood?

Pine is light, easy to work and resinous, suitable for indoor furniture and pallets. However, the sapwood of most pine species is not durable and still needs drying and treatment before use; the strength and load-bearing ability of pine is lower than heavy woods such as ironwood (lim).

3. How do white and yellow pine differ from Chinese yew?

Chinese yew (Taxus chinensis) belongs to a different family and is an endangered, precious and rare species in group IIA with restricted harvesting, so it is not an everyday commercial timber. White pine and yellow pine are trade names for Pinus pine timber, mostly imported, common, reasonably priced and easy to find on the market.

4. Are white and yellow pine durable?

White and yellow pine have moderate to low natural durability, suitable for furniture, wooden pallets or everyday timber products. To lengthen their life, the wood needs drying, treatment and storage in a dry place.

5. What is pine wood commonly used for?

White pine, yellow pine and radiata pine are used for tables, chairs, cabinets, flooring, decor, pallets and crates. Chinese yew and Krempf’s pine are endangered species and are not commercial sources of timber for furniture or packaging.

6. Which group is Chinese yew in?

Chinese yew (Taxus chinensis) is not named in the 8-group table of Decision 2198-CNR. It is an endangered, precious and rare forest plant in group IIA, with harvesting and trade restricted, so it is not an everyday commercial timber.

7. Which group is bamboo pine in?

Bamboo pine (Podocarpus neriifolius) is in group I under Decision 2198-CNR. Despite its name, it belongs to the podocarp family, not the pine genus Pinus.

8. Which group is American pine in?

American pine (southern yellow pine, white pine) is imported timber, so it is not named in the Vietnamese timber classification. For comparison, rely on density and hardness: Eastern white pine is only about 400 kg/m³ with a Janka hardness of 1,690 N, much lighter and softer than Khasi pine.

9. How does timber group 1 differ from group IA?

Timber group 1 (group I) belongs to the 8-group table of timber in use in Decision 2198-CNR, ranked by the value and properties of the wood. Group IA is the list of endangered, precious and rare forest plants whose harvesting and use for commercial purposes are strictly prohibited; group IIA covers species whose harvesting is restricted.

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References

• Decision 2198-CNR of 26 November 1977 of the Ministry of Forestry promulgating the provisional classification table of timber in uniform use nationwide: Legal documents database, Ministry of Agriculture.
• TCVN 12619-2:2019 Timber - Classification - Part 2: By physical and mechanical properties, issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology.
• Timber group classification: Vietnam Timber and Forest Product Association (VIFOREST).
• List of endangered, precious and rare forest plants and animals (Decree 06/2019/ND-CP, amended by Decree 84/2021/ND-CP): National portal for nature conservation and biodiversity.
• Khasi Pine, Sumatran Pine, Radiata Pine, Eastern White Pine, Rubberwood: The Wood Database.
• Wood packaging treatment standard ISPM 15: International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC).