Wood Types for Pallet Manufacturing: Acacia, Rubber Wood, Pine, Melaleuca and Engineered Board Compared

Wood pallets are made from 5 main wood types: acacia, rubber wood, pine, melaleuca and MDF engineered board. Each differs in durability, moisture resistance, mould resistance, weight and price, which means each suits a different industry and application. Choosing the wrong species leads to mould in a damp warehouse, breakage under heavy loads, or unnecessary cost. This guide compares all five in detail with a specification table, a load-based selection guide, and key notes on moisture content and drying.

Comparison table: 5 wood types for pallet manufacturing

Figures based on actual density, durability, moisture resistance and service life of the species ICD currently produces.

Characteristics of each wood type and when to use them

Acacia - strongest, best for heavy loads

High density of 0.65-0.75 g/cm3, very good mechanical strength, and a service life of 4-6 years in the warehouse. Acacia is the right choice for loads over 1.5 tonnes, high-turnover warehouses, and exports to Japan or South Korea (some export buyers specify hardwood pallets, so confirm the buyer’s requirement before ordering). After proper drying, moisture resistance is good.

It offers the best balance between durability and price among all five species.

Rubber wood - light and workable, suited to treated food-grade use

Untreated rubber wood is perishable, with little natural resistance to decay, and it is prone to fungal staining and insect attack (The Wood Database), so pallets need preservative treatment and thorough drying. Well suited to food and F&B industries (non-frozen) once treated and dried; keep it out of persistently damp areas. Lighter than acacia at 17-22 kg, making it easier to handle. Mechanical strength is medium to good, so it is not recommended for very heavy loads.

Pine - lightweight, attractive, preferred for EU and US exports

The lightest option (12-17 kg, density 0.40-0.50 g/cm3) with an attractive grain pattern. Pine is favoured by EU and US buyers for export pallets. However, moisture resistance and mould resistance are only medium, so thorough drying and dry storage conditions are essential. Price is higher than acacia because pine must be imported.

Melaleuca - low cost, adequate for medium loads

The lowest price among natural wood species, with good durability and moisture resistance. Suitable for loads from 500 kg to 1 tonne, domestic warehouses, and budget-conscious buyers. Melaleuca offers a good balance between price and quality for general-purpose use.

MDF engineered board - cheapest, single-use

Lowest price, but very poor moisture resistance and a service life of only 1-2 years. Not suitable for outdoor storage. Best for one-way export shipments, light loads, and single-use applications. One advantage: MDF is typically exempt from ISPM-15 heat treatment requirements because the manufacturing process already applies heat.

Choosing wood type by load capacity

Moisture content and drying: the factor that determines mould and warping

Why moisture content matters more than species

Wood that has not been dried to the correct moisture level will mould, shrink and warp regardless of how strong the species is. Export pallets need moisture content below 18-20%; pallets entering frozen storage need to be dried below 15% to prevent shrinkage when frozen. Always ask for the moisture content specification when ordering - do not only ask about the wood species.

Which wood to choose for damp and cold-storage warehouses

Damp warehouses need well-dried, preservative-treated timber: treated rubber wood or acacia are the usual options, and untreated rubber wood should be avoided. Cold-storage warehouses below -18 degrees Celsius require well-dried acacia with moisture content below 15% to prevent shrinkage. MDF engineered board must never be used in damp or cold-storage warehouses as it absorbs moisture and becomes brittle.

Hardwood and softwood groupings

The five wood types fall into two groups by density and durability, which helps narrow down the right choice quickly.

At the same load rating, softwood requires thicker boards and more bottom stringers than hardwood to compensate for lower strength. Do not compare prices by species alone without checking the board dimensions.

Are acacia and melaleuca the same species?

Traders sometimes group them together as “tram keo” (melaleuca-acacia), but acacia (Acacia genus) and melaleuca are distinct species. ICD prices them separately because acacia has higher density and better load capacity. Choose acacia for heavy loads; choose melaleuca for medium loads on a tighter budget.

Supply regions and how they affect price

Most wood pallets in Vietnam are made from acacia and melaleuca. Acacia is abundant and affordable in the north; rubber wood is readily available in the south; pine must be imported, which raises its price and makes it more susceptible to mould in Vietnam’s humid climate.

ICD has a warehouse in Hanoi and a plant in the south (Ho Chi Minh City), giving flexible supply by delivery region.

Export wood pallets must also be heat-treated to ISPM-15 standard and carry the heat-treatment mark. For details on how to read the mark and obtain the phytosanitary certificate, see the article on heat treatment marks on pallets.

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Frequently asked questions about wood types for pallets

1. Which is better for pallets - acacia or rubber wood?

Acacia is stronger, handles heavier loads (over 1.5 tonnes) and lasts 4-6 years. Treated and well-dried rubber wood suits food industry applications and dry-to-moderately-damp warehouses, but untreated rubber wood has little natural resistance to decay. Choose acacia for heavy loads; choose rubber wood only with proper treatment.

2. Which wood type is the cheapest for pallets?

MDF engineered board is the cheapest, but it is single-use and has very poor moisture resistance. Among natural wood species, melaleuca is the most affordable and is far more durable than engineered board.

3. Is pine wood good for pallets?

Pine is the lightest option with an attractive grain, favoured by EU and US buyers for export pallets. The drawback is only medium moisture and mould resistance, so thorough drying and dry storage are essential. Price is higher than acacia due to import costs.

4. Can MDF engineered board pallets be used in cold storage?

No. MDF absorbs moisture and becomes brittle, with a service life of only 1-2 years. Cold-storage warehouses require well-dried acacia with moisture content below 15%.

5. What moisture content should a wood pallet have?

Export pallets need moisture content below 18-20%. Pallets going into frozen storage need to be dried below 15% to prevent shrinkage when frozen. High moisture content causes mould and warping regardless of the wood species.

6. Are acacia and melaleuca the same wood?

No. Acacia belongs to the Acacia genus and melaleuca is a different species, even though they are often grouped together informally. Acacia has higher density, better load capacity and a higher price than melaleuca. Choose acacia for heavy loads and melaleuca for medium loads.

7. Is eucalyptus (white gum) wood good for pallets?

Eucalyptus is a hardwood with a longer service life than pine and is used in heavy industry. ICD standardises on the five species - acacia, rubber wood, pine, melaleuca and MDF - because they offer the best balance of durability, supply availability and price. For heavy-load requirements, acacia already performs at a comparable level.