Wood Types for Pallets Compared: Acacia, Rubberwood, Pine and More

Wooden pallets are made from five main woods: acacia, rubberwood, pine, melaleuca and engineered board. Each differs in strength, moisture resistance, mould resistance, weight and cost, which makes each suited to different industries. Choosing the wrong wood means pallets that mould in a damp warehouse, snap under heavy loads, or cost more than needed. This guide compares all five woods with a spec table, how to pick by load weight and industry, plus key notes on moisture and kiln drying.

Comparison table of 5 pallet wood types

Real figures by density, strength, moisture resistance and service life for each wood ICD produces.

Characteristics of each wood and when to use it

Acacia: the most durable, for heavy loads

High density at 0.65-0.75 g/cm3, very good mechanical strength, and a service life of 4-6 years in the warehouse. Acacia is the choice for loads above 1.5 tonnes, high-turnover warehouses, and exports to Japan and Korea (some export buyers specify hardwood pallets, so confirm the buyer’s requirement before ordering). After kiln drying it resists moisture well. It is the best balance of durability and cost.

Rubberwood: light and workable, suited to treated food-grade use

Untreated rubberwood 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. Suited to the food industry, non-frozen F&B once treated and dried, but not for persistently damp areas. Lighter than acacia (17-22 kg) so it is easier to handle. Its mechanical strength is fair to good, so it is not used for very heavy loads.

Pine: light, attractive, good for EU/US exports

The lightest (12-17 kg, density 0.40-0.50) with attractive grain, favoured by the EU and US for export pallets. However, its moisture and mould resistance are only average, so it needs thorough kiln drying and dry storage. It costs more than acacia because pine is imported.

Melaleuca: cheap, fine for medium loads

The lowest price among the natural woods, with fair durability and moisture resistance. Suited to medium loads of 500 kg to 1 tonne, domestic warehouses and tight budgets. A good balance of price and quality for general use.

Engineered MDF: cheapest, single use

The lowest price but very poor moisture resistance, a service life of only 1-2 years, and not for outdoor storage. Suited to one-way exports, light goods and single use. Advantage: it is usually exempt from ISPM-15 fumigation because it is heat-treated during manufacture.

Choosing the wood by load weight

Moisture and kiln drying: the deciding factor for mould and warping

Why moisture matters more than the wood

Wood that is not kiln dried to the right moisture content will mould, shrink and warp even if it is a good species. Export pallets need a moisture content below 18-20 percent; goods entering cold storage need drying below 15 percent to prevent shrinkage when frozen. Ask about the moisture content when ordering, not just the wood species.

Which wood for damp and cold warehouses

Damp warehouses need well-dried, preservative-treated timber: treated rubberwood or acacia are the usual options, and untreated rubberwood should be avoided. Cold storage below -18 degrees Celsius uses acacia dried below 15 percent moisture so it does not shrink. Engineered MDF should never be used for damp or cold warehouses because it absorbs moisture and crumbles.

Hardwood and softwood grouping

The five woods split into groups by density and strength, which makes it quick to choose by use.

At the same load, softwood needs thicker boards and more bottom runners than hardwood to make up for strength, so do not compare price by wood type alone while ignoring the specification.

Are acacia and melaleuca the same wood?

Traders often lump them together as “melaleuca acacia”, but acacia (the Acacia genus) and melaleuca are two different groups of trees. ICD prices them separately because acacia has a higher density and carries load better. Choose acacia for heavy loads; choose melaleuca for medium loads on a tight budget.

Supply source and region affect price

Most Vietnamese wooden pallets are made from acacia and melaleuca. Acacia is common and cheap in the north, rubberwood is readily sourced in the south, while pine must be imported, making it costlier and prone to mould in Vietnam’s humid climate. ICD has a warehouse in Hanoi and a plant in the south (Ho Chi Minh City), so it can secure supply by delivery region.

Wooden export pallets must also be heat-treated to the ISPM-15 standard and carry the ISPM-15 mark. ICD offers ISPM 15 heat treatment. See how to read the stamp and obtain the certificate in our article on the fumigation stamp on pallets.

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Frequently asked questions about pallet wood types

1. Which is better for pallets, acacia or rubberwood?

Acacia is stronger and carries heavy loads better (up to over 1.5 tonnes), with a 4-6 year service life. Treated and well-dried rubberwood suits the food industry and dry-to-moderately-damp warehouses, but untreated rubberwood has little natural resistance to decay. Choose acacia for heavy loads; choose rubberwood only with proper treatment.

2. Which wood is cheapest for pallets?

Engineered MDF is the cheapest but is single use with poor moisture resistance. Among natural woods, melaleuca is the cheapest and is far more durable than engineered board.

3. Is pine good for pallets?

Pine is light with attractive grain and is favoured by the EU and US for export. Its drawback is that moisture and mould resistance are only average, so it needs thorough kiln drying and dry storage. It costs more than acacia.

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

Not advisable. Engineered MDF absorbs moisture and crumbles, with very poor moisture resistance and a service life of only 1-2 years. Cold storage needs acacia dried below 15 percent moisture.

5. What moisture content is acceptable for a wooden pallet?

Export pallets need a moisture content below 18-20 percent. Goods entering cold storage need drying below 15 percent to prevent shrinkage when frozen. High moisture causes mould and warping even in good wood.

6. Are acacia and melaleuca the same wood?

No. Acacia belongs to the Acacia genus and melaleuca is a different group of trees, even though they are often lumped together as “melaleuca acacia”. Acacia has a higher density so it carries load better and costs more than melaleuca. Choose acacia for heavy loads, melaleuca for medium loads.

7. Is eucalyptus good for pallets?

Eucalyptus is a hardwood with a longer service life than pine, used for heavy industry. ICD standardises five lines (acacia, rubberwood, pine, melaleuca and engineered board) for the best balance of durability, supply and price; for heavy-load needs, acacia already delivers comparable performance.

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