Export Pallets & Crates: ISPM-15, Heat Treatment, & Shipping Requirements

If your shipment is leaving the United States, your wood packaging — pallets, crates, and dunnage — must meet international phytosanitary regulations.

Failing to comply can result in:

  • Customs delays

  • Shipment rejection

  • Re-export or destruction of packaging

  • Unexpected costs

This guide explains what export compliance means, when heat treatment is required, and how to secure properly marked pallets or crates for international shipping.

In this guide you’ll learn:

  • What export wood packaging compliance (ISPM-15) is

  • When your pallets or crates must be compliant

  • How heat treatment works in practice

  • What information we need for a quote

What ISPM-15 Means for Your Shipment

ISPM-15 (International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15) is the global standard regulating solid wood packaging used in international trade.

Its purpose is simple:

Prevent insects and wood-borne pests from spreading between countries.

Under ISPM-15, solid wood packaging must be:

  • Heat treated to a specified internal temperature

  • Stamped with an approved compliance mark

  • Traceable to a certified treatment provider

If you are exporting goods on wood pallets or inside wooden crates, ISPM-15 likely applies.

How Heat Treatment Works in Practice

Heat treatment is not surface drying. It is a controlled process that:

  • Raises the internal wood temperature to at least 56°C (132.8°F)

  • Holds that temperature for a minimum of 30 minutes

  • Is performed by a certified treatment facility

After treatment, the pallet or crate is stamped with an official IPPC mark showing:

  • Country code

  • Producer/treatment facility number

  • “HT” designation (heat treated)

Without this stamp, your shipment may not clear customs.

What Packaging Requires ISPM-15?

ISPM-15 applies to:

  • Solid wood pallets

  • Solid wood crates

  • Skids and dunnage

  • Blocking and bracing made from solid lumber

Materials such as plastic, metal, laminated paper like corner board, or engineered wood products like plywood and OSB are not subject to ISPM-15 regulations, because they cannot harbor the pests the standard is meant to control.

If you’re unsure whether your packaging qualifies, we can help you determine compliance before your shipment moves.

While ISPM-15 is broadly adopted worldwide, specific import requirements may vary slightly by destination, so always verify destination country import documentation beyond ISPM-15 (e.g., additional declarations or inspections).

Pallet or Crate for Export?

Some exports can ship safely on a standard heat-treated pallet. Others require full crating.

If you’re deciding between the two, see: When Do You Need a Crate Instead of a Pallet?

If your shipment involves oversized or heavy equipment, this may also apply: Shipping Oversized or Heavy Loads? When You Need a Custom Pallet or Crate.

Exporting Machinery or Industrial Equipment?

Machinery exports often require:

  • Custom blocking for weight distribution

  • Reinforced bases

  • Fully enclosed crates

  • Shock or moisture protection

See: Custom Pallets & Crates for Machinery and Industrial Equipment.

If you need to provide detailed specifications, this guide will help: How to Specify a Custom Pallet or Crate.

What Information We Need for an Export Quote

To provide an accurate quote for export-compliant packaging, we typically need:

  • Destination country

  • Overall dimensions of the load

  • Total shipment weight

  • Load distribution or center of gravity (if known)

  • Method of transport (air, ocean, LTL, FTL)

  • Required timeline

Providing this upfront reduces back-and-forth and speeds production.

Need help determining what you need for export packaging? Contact us for a quick compliance review.

Lead Times and Cost Considerations

Heat-treated pallets are widely available, but custom export crates require planning.

You may also want to review:

What Does a Custom Pallet or Crate Cost?

How Long Does It Take to Build a Custom Pallet or Crate?

Export packaging often adds steps to the production timeline — especially if documentation or inspection is required.

Avoiding Common Export Packaging Mistakes

We frequently see avoidable issues such as:

  • Using untreated domestic pallets for international shipments

  • Missing or illegible ISPM-15 stamps

  • Under-estimating total shipment weight

  • Failing to consider moisture protection for ocean freight

  • Assuming all wood packaging is automatically compliant

Clarifying requirements early prevents delays at the port.

Need Export-Ready Pallets or Crates?

We coordinate heat-treated pallets and custom export crates through certified suppliers to ensure compliance with ISPM-15 requirements.

If you’re unsure what level of packaging your shipment requires, we can help you determine the safest and most cost-effective option.

Request a Quote

Or call us at (630) 765-5476.