Wooden pallets in global trade: What is behind the 80 percent figure

Wood Packaging: German Manufacturers Produced Nearly 100 Million Pallets in 2025

Wood pallets, shipping crates, and transport floors are integral components of numerous industrial and international supply chains. According to the German Association for Wood Packaging, Pallets, Export Packaging (HPE), wood packaging is used in around 80 percent of global goods deliveries. In Germany, manufacturers produced nearly 100 million pallets in 2025. In addition to new production, the reuse and repair of used load carriers play a role in supplying logistics with transport packaging.

Wood packaging performs various tasks in the transportation, storage, and handling of goods. Pallets enable the bundling and handling of products, while shipping crates protect sensitive products. Transport floors serve primarily as substructures for heavy loads. These packaging solutions are used, for example, in food supply, the automotive industry, and mechanical engineering, according to an HPE report.

Custom Packaging for Heavy and Sensitive Goods

The requirements for transport packaging vary depending on the nature and application of the goods. While many products can be transported on standardized pallets, large machines and sensitive plant components often require custom-made packaging solutions.

When designing these solutions, packaging companies particularly consider the weight and dimensions of the freight as well as the intended transport route. Based on this, they determine the construction of transport crates and transport bases. The goal is to adequately protect the goods during transportation, storage, and handling, and to ensure their safe handling.

Packaging planning also includes distributing the loads that occur and securing the transported goods against shifting. Depending on transport conditions, additional protective measures may be required. These include especially precautions against moisture and corrosion. Thus, in addition to the manufacture of wooden structures, packaging companies also take on tasks related to the technical design and securing of the transport goods.

Nearly 100 million pallets produced in 2025

According to HPE, German wooden packaging manufacturers produced nearly 100 million pallets in 2025. However, new production forms only part of the supply of wooden load carriers. In addition, used pallets are reused and repaired if necessary.

Before being used again, specialist companies check the condition of the returned pallets. Necessary repairs then allow for further use. Other wooden packaging can also undergo several usage cycles in this way. The reuse thus complements the ongoing production of new transport packaging. Which wooden packaging can be reused depends on its respective condition and any potential need for repair.

Return network for used wooden packaging

To return used load carriers, the industry association operates the nationwide network “HPECycle”. Companies can hand over used pallets and other wooden packaging to participating specialist companies.

The affiliated businesses check whether the returned packaging can be immediately reused or needs to be repaired first. Subsequently, suitable wooden packaging can be used again. According to the association, the return network complements the recycling systems already in place within the industry.

For wooden packaging that can no longer be used as transport packaging, there are also possibilities for material recycling. Suitable waste wood can be used, for example, to produce pallet blocks or chipboard. This allows the material to be used as a raw material for other products even after the end of its original use.