Pallet Shipping from China
Export freight for pallet — packing specification, container loading, HS classification and clearance. Quoted EXW, FOB, CIF, CIP or delivered duty-paid.
We move Pallet out of China as ordinary export freight — booked, packed and cleared to the same standard as any other commodity, but planned around the fact that it the one commodity where the packaging regulation applies to the product itself.
That shapes the quote directly. Volume-limited. Air freight charges volumetric weight at L×W×H÷6000, so anything under about 167 kg/m³ prices on space rather than mass. Sea LCL prices per cubic metre, which makes packing density the single biggest lever on the freight bill.
Worth knowing about pallet specifically. ISPM 15 on the pallets themselves. Timber pallets shipped as cargo must be heat treated and stamped exactly as timber packaging must be, and an unstamped consignment is refused or fumigated at your cost. Check the mark on the actual stack, not the certificate.
The paperwork that most often decides whether a consignment clears on time is ISPM 15 heat treatment on all solid wood, and EU deforestation-regulation due diligence. Expect HS chapter 44 / 48, with the precise heading depending on grade and construction — confirm it for your specific goods rather than assuming.
Freight reference — Pallet
| Typical HS chapter | 44 / 48 |
|---|---|
| Cargo behaviour | The one commodity where the packaging regulation applies to the product itself |
| How it prices | Volume-limited |
| Usual service | Sea FCL / LCL |
| Main compliance step | ISPM 15 heat treatment on all solid wood, and EU deforestation-regulation due diligence |
| Trade terms available | EXW, FOB, CIF, CIP, DAP or delivered duty-paid |
HS chapters are indicative. The binding classification depends on your exact specification — confirm the heading before relying on a duty estimate.
Packing and protection
Stacked and banded, with the ISPM 15 mark visible on the outside of the stack. Plastic and pressed pallets ship nested where the design allows, which materially reduces cube against block-stacked timber.
Loading the container
Stowage: Pack to the roof and fill the voids. Light cargo will not hit the weight limit, so unused headroom is money left on the table — but keep the load stable, because a light stack that shifts still collapses.
Choosing the service
Service choice: Sea FCL once the volume justifies a full box; LCL below that. Air only for genuinely urgent goods — volumetric pricing makes bulky air freight expensive out of all proportion to the cargo value.
Where it usually goes wrong
ISPM 15 on the pallets themselves. Timber pallets shipped as cargo must be heat treated and stamped exactly as timber packaging must be, and an unstamped consignment is refused or fumigated at your cost. Check the mark on the actual stack, not the certificate.
Live rates on lanes that carry this cargo
Published per-kilo and per-CBM rates from China, updated from carrier feeds. Rates are lane-based rather than commodity-based, so these apply to pallet as much as to any other general cargo on the same route.
Frequently asked questions
How is freight priced for pallet?
Volume-limited. Air freight charges volumetric weight at L×W×H÷6000, so anything under about 167 kg/m³ prices on space rather than mass. Sea LCL prices per cubic metre, which makes packing density the single biggest lever on the freight bill.
How should pallet be packed for export?
Stacked and banded, with the ISPM 15 mark visible on the outside of the stack. Plastic and pressed pallets ship nested where the design allows, which materially reduces cube against block-stacked timber.
Air or sea for pallet?
Sea FCL once the volume justifies a full box; LCL below that. Air only for genuinely urgent goods — volumetric pricing makes bulky air freight expensive out of all proportion to the cargo value.
What customs paperwork does pallet need?
The step that most often holds a shipment is ISPM 15 heat treatment on all solid wood, and EU deforestation-regulation due diligence. Classification normally falls in HS chapter 44 / 48, but the exact heading depends on your specification — send the product details and we will confirm the code and the duty position for the destination before you commit.
What goes wrong most often with pallet shipments?
ISPM 15 on the pallets themselves. Timber pallets shipped as cargo must be heat treated and stamped exactly as timber packaging must be, and an unstamped consignment is refused or fumigated at your cost. Check the mark on the actual stack, not the certificate.
Is there anything specific to pallet we should know?
Solid wood packing and solid wood product are treated differently at the border, but both need ISPM 15 treatment and a legible stamp. An unstamped pallet will have the whole consignment fumigated at your cost.
Can you quote pallet on FOB or CIF rather than duty-paid?
Yes. We quote EXW, FOB, CIF, CIP, DAP and delivered duty-paid on this cargo. The term decides how much of the journey is already inside the price — the trade-terms table on any of our rate pages sets out exactly who carries which cost at each stage.