At a glance:

• Standardised pallets reduce the need for re-palletisation, helping businesses avoid extra labour, fines, and shipment delays at borders.
• Using pallets that meet international standards, such as ISO sizes and ISPM 15 compliance, ensures smoother customs clearance and more efficient logistics.
• Standard pallets improve container space usage, reduce damage risk, and support safer handling with forklifts and other warehouse equipment.
• Consistent pallet sizes are essential for automated systems, making standardisation key for international supply chains.

Compliance and standardisation are more crucial than one might think in international trade. While much attention is given to product specifications and shipping containers, pallets often remain an overlooked part of the puzzle. Yet, a single mismatch in pallet standards between countries can lead to shipment delays, damaged goods, and unexpected costs.

In a fast-moving global market, even small oversights like this can disrupt supply chains and hurt profitability. That’s why ensuring pallet standardisation is no longer optional; it’s essential for smooth and efficient global trade.

In this blog, we’ll explore why pallet standardisation matters and how it helps businesses avoid costly setbacks in international shipping.

What Is Pallet Standardisation?

Pallet standardisation refers to the use of pallets with specified requirements that are usually uniform in terms of size, material used, and treatment process. This uniformity is applied in the different phases of the supply chain.

It might sound simple, but it’s more complex than you think. When moving goods between countries and even continents, every millimetre and regulation matters. Moreover, standardisation becomes more complicated when different regions of the world use different pallet standards.

Here are some of the most commonly used pallet standards worldwide.

• Australian standard-size pallet uses 1165x1165mm for local transport, especially for the rail transport and internal logistics.
• Asia, Europe, and North America use 1200x1000mm as they are widely accepted in international freight and are considered a global standard.
• Euro-style pallets use 800x1200mm, which is designed to fit European trucks and warehouses and is standard in almost all parts of Europe.

Why Pallet Standardisation Matters in International Trade

Pallet standardisation is an essential component in international trade. Meeting the pallet regulations and requirements means you can avoid both delivery delays and potential additional costs, such as re-palletisation or fines for not meeting the requirements.

That said, here are some of the reasons why pallet standardisation is important in international trade.

Eliminates Costly Re-Palletisation

Pallet size requirements may differ from country to country. When engaging in international trade, if there is a variation between the actual size and the required size of the pallets, the cargo needs to be transferred to a pallet that is a better fit. This is done by a process called re-palletisation, which is both costly and labour-intensive.

So, if you have standard pallets, you can avoid these unforeseen costs, which can affect your overall profitability. However, one country’s standard may not be the same as another country’s. For instance, if you are transporting goods to a European country, it’s better to use Euro-style pallets.

Reduces Shipment Delays

Delays at ports are a common issue when shipments don’t comply with regional regulations. If your pallet does not comply with the rules, which are usually ISPM 15 standards that check the heat treatment and fumigation requirements, you may have trouble moving your goods. When shipping goods internationally, make sure to use heat-treated pallets.

Having a globally accepted pallet size and material type ensures smoother customs inspections and fewer holdups related to quarantine. If a specific region uses different regulations, you always have the option to choose custom-made pallets or export pallets to meet the requirements.

At Waterstone Pallets, every pallet we make is ISPM 15-compliant to help Australian businesses avoid common regulatory issues and ship with confidence.

Read more: How Waterstone’s Export Pallets Ensure Safe International Shipping

Maximises Container Space

You can optimise your logistics if you have a standard pallet size for shipment and long-distance cargo. Usually, the shipping containers are designed to optimise load volumes. If you have a pallet that doesn’t meet the standard size, there’s a higher chance that you might face issues like inefficient space usage. That means you can only transport fewer goods per container, leading to a higher overall cost.

On the other hand, if you have standardised pallets, you can stack the pallets to utilise the space to its full potential. This leads to a better load distribution and less wasted space. This is one of the few ways you can save money when transporting goods.

Improves Workplace Safety

When dealing with bulk quantities of goods, the materials-handling equipment, such as forklifts and pallet jacks, is designed for use with a uniform pallet size and design. This is done to save time and effort and maintain workplace safety. However, if you have a non-standard pallet, workers are more prone to accidents related to unsafe lifting and mishandling, as there is a risk of misalignment or tipping.

Such workplace hazards pose a significant threat to equipment operators and workers who handle the goods and materials being shipped and transported. Hence, pallet standardisation is essential to protect workers from such hazards and improve workplace safety.

Enables Better Automation

Last but not least, standardising the pallets can help with automation. Automation and robotics are increasingly used to handle items in modern warehouses. As a result, pallet dimensions and materials must be predictable for these systems to function properly.

If you use pallets that do not meet the standard, there may be pallet size mismatches, which can interfere with automated systems. This can result in the need for expensive manual overrides.

All in all, as international logistics becomes more demanding in meeting global needs, every second counts, and every centimetre matters. That said, businesses can simplify compliance, reduce costs, increase safety, and drive efficiency across their entire supply chain just by adopting pallet standardisation.

If you’re looking to optimise your global shipping processes with high-quality, compliant wooden pallets, crates, or custom solutions, a reliable pallet supplier like Waterstone Pallets is the place for you.

Contact us today to standardise your freight and streamline your international logistics.