Wooden Pallet Assembly Service: Process, Pricing and Export Requirements

ICD Vietnam assembles custom wooden pallets to order in any size from 50 units upward, using acacia, pine or rubber wood, with ISPM 15 heat treatment for export. Price ranges from 50,000 to 350,000 VND per pallet depending on material, dimensions and quantity. Production lead time is 3-7 working days for orders of 100-1,000 pallets, with nationwide delivery and a VAT invoice.

Over 15 years of producing wooden pallets, we have found that more than 60% of businesses contacting ICD for the first time are using the wrong pallet size. The direct consequence is cargo shifting during transport, leading to damage and higher compensation costs. This is exactly why custom wooden pallet assembly is increasingly the preferred choice for manufacturers and logistics companies.

A wooden pallet looks simple, but getting one that truly serves your operation requires careful decisions: wood species, board thickness, 2-way or 4-way entry structure, and heat treatment if the pallet is destined for export. This article covers all of those decisions.

Wood species used for pallet production

Wood species accounts for 60-70% of the final cost and service life of a pallet. In Vietnam, three species dominate pallet production: acacia, pine and rubber wood. Each has distinct characteristics suited to different applications. Many businesses do not realise that choosing the wrong species can double their pallet cost without any improvement in performance.

Acacia holds roughly 70% of the Vietnamese pallet market, supported by abundant plantation supplies from the northern and central provinces. Acacia has a density of 550-650 kg/m3, good load-bearing capacity and the lowest price of the three species. Acacia pallets suit indoor warehousing, factory floor use and sea-freight exports. However, acacia is susceptible to termites if not properly kiln-dried; moisture content must be below 18% before assembly.

Pine is favoured for export pallets because of its light weight (density 400-550 kg/m3), attractive grain and low resin content after drying. Pine pallets cost roughly 30-50% more than acacia but save significantly on air-freight charges. Rubber wood is a premium option with a density of 600-700 kg/m3, superior load capacity and a smooth surface, making it suitable for food and pharmaceutical industries with strict hygiene requirements.

A common mistake we see often: businesses choose pine for long-term indoor warehousing. Standard acacia pallets in the 800×1200 mm to 1100×1100 mm range cost 40% less while still meeting a static load of 2-3 tonnes. Pine should only be selected when reducing pallet weight is needed to optimise freight costs.

6-step wooden pallet assembly process at ICD Vietnam

A quality wooden pallet is not simply a few boards nailed together. At ICD Vietnam, every pallet goes through a tightly controlled 6-step process to meet ISO standards and ISPM 15 requirements for export. This is the ISO-standard wooden pallet production process ICD has applied for over 15 years, consistently achieving a defect rate below 0.5%.

• Step 1 - Survey and technical drawing: The engineering team collects cargo dimensions, load weight, intended use (warehousing or export) and order quantity. ICD then produces a detailed technical drawing covering overall dimensions, top-board count, stringer thickness, block or stringer leg type and forklift entry direction. The customer approves the drawing before production starts.
• Step 2 - Wood selection and incoming inspection: Incoming timber is inspected to reject pieces with cracks, hollow cores or excessive dead knots. For acacia, ICD sources plantation timber from northern provinces that has been pre-dried before delivery. This step is critical: poor-quality timber that passes inspection will significantly reduce pallet load capacity and may cause collapse under load.
• Step 3 - Sawing boards to specification: Logs are sawn by high-capacity machines into boards at the exact dimensions shown in the drawing. Top boards are typically 15-22 mm thick; stringers range from 70-100 mm depending on load requirements. QC staff inspect each board to reject pieces below specification or with dead knots that affect structural integrity.
• Step 4 - Kiln drying and disinfestation: Boards are stacked with air gaps and placed in an industrial kiln. The drying process reduces wood moisture to below 18% and simultaneously eliminates termites and mould. For export pallets, timber must undergo heat treatment (HT) as required by ISPM 15, reaching a core temperature of at least 56 degrees Celsius for 30 continuous minutes. After treatment, the IPPC mark is stamped to certify compliance.
• Step 5 - Assembly and nailing: Dried boards are joined according to the design using industrial spiral nails. Spiral nails provide 2-3 times the holding force of smooth-shank nails, preventing the pallet from pulling apart under heavy loads or repeated forklift impacts. At ICD, this step is performed with pneumatic nail guns to ensure consistent production speed and uniformity.
• Step 6 - Final inspection and storage: Finished pallets are checked for overall dimensions (tolerance +-3 mm), surface flatness, nail integrity and surface wood quality. Pallets that pass are stacked neatly in a temperature- and humidity-controlled warehouse, ready for customer delivery.

Custom wooden pallets - when to order and what to specify

Custom pallet assembly is not always necessary. If your cargo has standard dimensions and unremarkable load requirements, buying standard ready-made pallets is 10-15% cheaper and faster. However, there are situations where custom assembly is the only viable option.

The first case is non-standard cargo dimensions. A business producing 3-metre steel tubes cannot use a standard 1200×1000 mm pallet - it needs a 3200 mm long custom pallet. The second case is ultra-heavy cargo requiring reinforced structure: thicker stringers, cross-bracing, and carefully calculated load capacity to carry 3-5 tonnes. The third case is export to markets with specific container size requirements, such as 1140×1140 mm pallets for European chemical markets.

When placing a custom order, provide the following information: exact dimensions (L x W x H), maximum load (distinguish static from dynamic load), preferred wood species, pallet type (single or double face, 2-way or 4-way entry), whether heat treatment is required, and order quantity. The minimum order quantity for a custom specification at ICD Vietnam is 50 pallets.

Wooden pallet price guide 2026

Wooden pallet prices depend on multiple factors - there is no single fixed price for all specifications. Based on 15 years of experience at ICD Vietnam, the three factors with the greatest impact on wooden pallet price are: wood species (60-70% of cost), pallet dimensions and structure (20-25%), and special processing such as heat treatment, sanding or logo printing (10-15%). Order volume also has a significant effect - orders of 500 pallets or more typically receive an 8-12% discount over single-unit pricing.

A quick pricing formula for reference: Unit price = timber cost + processing cost (sawing, drying, nailing) + special treatment cost (heat treatment, sanding, logo printing) + delivery cost. ICD Vietnam offers free delivery for orders of 200 pallets or more within the northern region. For an accurate quote, provide: dimensions, wood species, quantity and delivery address.

5 common mistakes in wooden pallet production and how to avoid them

Over many years in the industry, we have witnessed businesses suffer significant losses from seemingly minor errors in pallet production. Here are the 5 most common mistakes to avoid when ordering custom wooden pallets.

Mistake 1 - Using insufficiently dried timber. Wood with moisture content above 20% will shrink after assembly, causing joint gaps, loose nails and warping. The result is a pallet that loses load-bearing capacity within 2-3 months of use. Prevention: require the manufacturer to guarantee moisture content below 18% and verify with a moisture meter on delivery.

Mistake 2 - Using smooth-shank nails instead of spiral nails. Smooth nails cost about 30% less but provide only 40-50% of the holding force of spiral nails. Pallets assembled with smooth nails frequently pull apart under repeated forklift impacts. Mistake 3 - Underestimating load requirements and choosing stringers that are too thin for the actual cargo weight. Mistake 4 - Skipping heat treatment for export pallets, causing the shipment to be rejected at the destination port. Mistake 5 - Not sanding the pallet surface when it will be in direct contact with product packaging, causing tears and product damage.

Export wooden pallets - mandatory requirements

Wooden pallets used for export cargo must comply strictly with international phytosanitary regulations. Under the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), all wood packaging used in international trade must undergo heat treatment (HT) or methyl bromide fumigation (MB) in accordance with ISPM 15. In Vietnam, heat treatment (HT) is the more widely used method because it is safer for the environment and for workers.

After treatment, each pallet must carry the IPPC mark showing: the IPPC logo, country code (VN), the registered number of the treatment facility, and the treatment method (HT or MB). The mark must be clearly legible and stamped in a visible position on the pallet. ICD Vietnam holds a licence to carry out heat treatment to ISPM 15 standards and issues a phytosanitary certificate for each production lot.

An important point many first-time exporters overlook: heat treatment adds only about 15,000-25,000 VND per pallet to the cost, but without it an entire container can be held at the destination port, triggering demurrage charges, late-delivery penalties and potentially forced destruction of the shipment. Against that risk, the cost of heat treatment is entirely justified.

Why choose ICD Vietnam for wooden pallet assembly?

ICD Vietnam is not just a manufacturer - we are a pallet solution consultant for more than 2,000 businesses across the country since we were founded in 2011. With our production facility in the northern region, ICD can supply 10,000-15,000 wooden pallets per month, serving both small orders from 50 pallets and large industrial orders of several thousand units. Every product is quality-checked before leaving the factory.

The process for ordering custom pallets from ICD is straightforward: contact us with your requirements, ICD advises and quotes within 30 minutes, you approve the drawing, we produce in 3-7 days, and we deliver to your door with a VAT invoice. ICD also offers 100% replacement if the product does not meet the agreed specification. In addition to wooden pallets, ICD also supplies plastic pallets for businesses that need a more durable solution in wet environments.

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