By Vincent Wen    Photo：CANVA

Why Must Wooden Packaging Be Fumigated?

Wooden packaging materials—such as wooden crates, pallets, slatted boxes, dunnage, wooden barrels, and sleepers—must undergo fumigation or heat treatment before export. This process is essential to eliminate insects, larvae, and pathogens hidden in the wood, thereby preventing the export of harmful organisms to other countries.

Once treated, the wood must be marked with the IPPC stamp, which must be clearly printed on two opposite sides of the packaging to ensure easy identification. The mark should not be in red or orange, as these colors are typically associated with danger or emergencies, which could cause confusion. Additionally, the marking should be applied in a permanent manner to ensure its durability and legibility.

Choosing Between Wooden and Plastic Pallets

To enhance efficiency in cargo handling and warehouse operations, businesses commonly use pallets in international logistics. Pallets help with stacking and transporting goods, often used in conjunction with forklifts or pallet jacks. The two main types of pallets are wooden pallets and plastic pallets.

Although wooden pallets are relatively inexpensive, they are prone to damage and must comply with IPPC fumigation or heat treatment regulations before export. These requirements can complicate the export process and may attract strict inspections from customs authorities. Moreover, improperly handled nails on wooden pallets can pose injury risks or damage to packaged goods.

In contrast, plastic pallets have become increasingly popular in recent years. They are exempt from fumigation requirements, are easier to clean, and generally face fewer challenges from customs during export. More importantly, they contain no nails, effectively eliminating the risk of puncture injuries. However, plastic pallets also have their drawbacks—they cannot be easily repaired, may have poor slip resistance, and lack customization flexibility.

A New Alternative: The Rise of Composite Pallets

To balance cost-effectiveness with ease of export, more and more companies are turning to composite pallets. These are made by combining wood chips with glue and processing them under high pressure and temperature. While they offer similar structure and functionality to wooden pallets, composite pallets are not made from raw lumber, which means fumigation is not required. They can be exported directly and are generally more affordable, making them an ideal alternative to traditional wooden pallets.

Final Recommendations

When selecting the right type of pallet, exporters should consider the following factors:

Unit cost and service life of the pallet

Compatibility with forklifts or pallet jacks

Need for IPPC fumigation compliance

Subsequent handling costs and ease of export procedures

Potential impact on cargo and operational safety

Choosing the appropriate type of pallet not only helps reduce overall logistics costs but also improves the efficiency and compliance of export operations

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