Skip to content
Wooden Pallet Articles

What Is a Pressed Wood Pallet? Structure, Specs and Fumigation

June 14, 2026 — Lê Văn Thăng

What a pressed wood pallet is: moulded from wood chips and resin under heat and pressure. Structure, specs, nesting savings and why it is ISPM-15 exempt.

Reviewed and updated by ICD - Week 24/2026

A pressed wood pallet (also called a moulded wood pallet or presswood pallet) is a pallet moulded into a single piece from wood chips and sawdust bonded with resin under high heat and pressure. Unlike a traditional wooden pallet nailed from many boards, a pressed wood pallet has no nails or gaps, is light, and nests to save space when empty.

Structure and moulding process

The raw material is wood chips and sawdust - timber-industry by-products - dried, mixed with water-resistant resin, laid into a mould and hot-pressed under hundreds of tonnes of force. Heat cures the resin and forms the pallet into one body with feet or runners for forklift and pallet-jack entry. Because it is moulded from heat-treated material, a pressed wood pallet counts as processed (engineered) wood.

Technical specs

Metric Typical range
Weight 30 - 50% lighter than a same-size solid wood pallet
Static load Up to ~4,000 - 6,000 kg depending on model
Dynamic load ~1,000 - 1,500 kg
Nesting Saves 60 - 70% of volume when empty
Entry 4-way, suits forklifts and pallet jacks

Do pressed wood pallets need ISPM-15 fumigation?

No. This is the biggest advantage for export: ISPM-15 applies to raw solid wood that can carry pests, while a pressed wood pallet is already heat- and pressure-treated during manufacture and so counts as processed wood, exempt from fumigation and requiring no IPPC stamp. Exporters avoid fumigation cost and delay and the risk of cargo being held for non-compliant pallets.

Pros and cons

Pros Cons
ISPM-15 exempt, ideal for export Lower dynamic load than same-size wood/plastic
Light, cuts shipping cost Poor under prolonged damp, not for wet cold storage
Nests to save space when empty Fewer reuse cycles than plastic pallets
Cheap, uses wood by-products Cannot be repaired if cracked (one-piece moulding)

Applications

Pressed wood pallets fit one-way export best: consumer goods, components, ceramics, packaged produce - where the pallet travels with the cargo and is not returned. Light weight and fumigation exemption optimise sea- and air-freight logistics cost.

What ICD offers

ICD supplies pressed wood pallets in many sizes, plus wooden pallets and plastic pallets, so you pick the right type for your export needs, load and reuse cycles.

More on pressed wood pallets

Topic pillar

Why pressed wood pallets are popular

In-depth analysis articles

Pressed wood vs traditional wooden pallet Rubber wood classification

Frequently asked questions

What is a pressed wood pallet?

A pallet moulded in one piece from wood chips and sawdust bonded with resin under heat and pressure - no nails, light, nestable and ISPM-15 exempt.

Do pressed wood pallets need fumigation for export?

No. Being heat- and pressure-treated, they count as processed wood, are exempt from ISPM-15 and need no IPPC stamp - their biggest export advantage.

How much can a pressed wood pallet hold?

Static load is usually up to about 4,000 - 6,000 kg and dynamic load around 1,000 - 1,500 kg depending on model; lower than same-size wood/plastic but enough for export goods.

Can pressed wood pallets nest?

Yes. When empty they nest into each other, saving 60 - 70% of storage and transport volume versus flat pallets.

Are pressed wood pallets reusable?

They can be reused for a few cycles but resist prolonged damp poorly and cannot be repaired if cracked; they suit one-way export best.

Does ICD sell pressed wood pallets?

Yes. ICD supplies pressed wood pallets in many sizes alongside wooden and plastic pallets, with advice on choosing the right type.

Contact ICD Vietnam

ICD Vietnam Industrial Manufacturing Co., Ltd - pallets, plastic crates, stretch film, forklifts and packaging solutions.

Hotline: 0983 797 186 / 090 345 9186
Email: sales@icdvietnam.com.vn | Zalo: Chat on Zalo


Bài viết liên quan

Rubberwood vs Acacia Wood: Price & Durability Comparison

Rubberwood costs 1/3 of acacia wood and dominates industrial pallet production. Full comparison of hardness, price, supply, and environmental impact.

EPAL and EUR Pallet Stamps: Euro Pallet Sizes and Markings

EPAL and EUR pallet markings explained: EUR 1 is 1200x800mm with 78 nails, plus EUR 2, 3, 6 sizes, ISPM 15 HT stamps and EU export rules.

How Much Does 1 Cubic Meter of Rubber Tree Wood Weigh?

1 cubic meter of rubber tree wood weighs 570-650 kg dry or up to 770 kg at 12% moisture. Factors, examples, and weight estimation explained.

Wooden Pallet Manufacturing Process: 6 Steps to ISO Standard

How wooden pallets are made: 6 steps from log selection to QC, including kiln drying under 20% and ISPM 15 heat treatment to 56C core for 30 min.

Pine Wood Weight per Cubic Meter: Dry, Fresh and How to Calculate

Pine wood weighs 400-550 kg/m3 when dry and 800-950 kg/m3 when fresh. Learn what affects weight and how to calculate it for any volume.

ISPM 15 Wood Pallet Fumigation Standard: What It Is and How to Get Certified

ISPM 15 requires heat treatment or MB fumigation for all wood packaging. Learn the mark, certificate process, and which materials are exempt.

ICD Việt Nam cam kết trao giá trị vượt trội đến Quý khách hàng.

Các đối tác - Khách hàng - Nhà cung cấp

Zalo ICD Việt Nam
VI | EN