Why Indian factories and warehouses are moving off wooden pallets
India enforces wood packaging rules strictly. Under ISPM-15, every wooden pallet or crate entering the country must be heat-treated or fumigated and carry an approved stamp, or the consignment can be held or re-exported at the importer’s cost. Plastic pallets are exempt: no treatment, no stamp, no fumigation certificate, no hold-up at Nhava Sheva or Mundra.
There are everyday reasons too. Termites and powder-post beetles destroy wooden pallets in Indian warehouses within a couple of seasons; monsoon humidity warps deck boards and swells the pallet; splinters and loose nails contaminate food, pharmaceutical and electronics loads.
This guide comes from Foshan LSY Plastic Products Co., Ltd. — a Foshan injection moulding factory with 35+ years in plastics, 180T–2500T machines (JSW, Mitsubishi, NSC), a 20,000 sqm warehouse and our own mould workshop.
Plastic pallet sizes Indian importers order most
Confirm the footprint against your racking, forks and container plan first. These are the sizes we mould most often for Indian buyers:
- 1200×1000 mm (ISO): the workhorse for export palletisation and racking in India — about 10 per layer in a 20ft container, 20+ in a 40ft.
- 1200×800 mm (EUR): for European racking or food-industry flows already in place.
- 1100×1100 mm (Asia): common in regional distribution and automotive component plants.
- 1140×1140 mm and custom: our own mould workshop covers 600–1400 mm, so a non-standard footprint is a normal order.
Static, dynamic and racking load: three numbers that are not interchangeable
This is where most Indian purchase teams get caught out. Mixing these up breaks racks:
- Dynamic load — while a forklift carries it. Standard export models 500–1000 kg; heavy-duty models 1500–2000 kg.
- Static load — while the pallet sits on the floor. Heavy-duty models reach 3000–6000 kg.
- Racking load — unsupported except at its two racking edges. Typically 500–1500 kg. If you rack, quote racking load.
Tare weight matters for freight too: a nestable pallet cuts empty storage and return freight volume by about 60%.
HDPE or PP, and which deck
We mould both virgin HDPE and PP. HDPE handles cold-chain and chemical exposure better, so it dominates pharmaceutical and cold-store use; PP is stiffer and suits general warehouse duty. Deck follows the load: grid deck for airflow and drainage with produce and frozen goods, closed deck where small cartons must not fall through, and nine-leg four-way entry where aisles are tight.
Shipping to India: what to confirm before you book
We ship overseas orders by FCL only. Typical discharge ports for our Indian customers are Nhava Sheva (JNPT), Mundra, Chennai and Kolkata. Production runs 5–15 days depending on whether the size and rating are stock or tooled, plus ocean transit. Because plastic pallets carry no ISPM-15 obligation, you also avoid the fumigation certificate and its inspections. Share your racking width, dynamic load and monthly volume and we will reply with FOB Shenzhen pricing and container loading within 24 hours.
Frequently asked questions from Indian buyers
Can you ship plastic pallets to India, and what is the MOQ?
Yes. For overseas orders we ship by FCL (full container load) only, and India is served from Shenzhen/Nansha. A 20ft container takes about 10 pallets per layer and a 40ft about 20 per layer; total quantity depends on pallet height and whether nestable designs are used. LCL and small mixed batches are not supported for export. Orders inside mainland China have no MOQ and ship by domestic logistics or courier.
Can I get a sample pallet to test?
Samples are billed at cost price against a proforma invoice, and air freight is paid by the buyer. Lead time is 5-7 days for in-stock SKUs and 10-15 days for custom sizes or load ratings. Sample cost is credited against the following FCL order.
How is the pallet price calculated?
Unit price depends on footprint (600-1400 mm range), material (virgin HDPE or PP), load rating (500-1000 kg dynamic for standard export models, 1500-2000 kg dynamic for heavy-duty), and order volume. Send your target spec and monthly volume and we quote FOB Shenzhen within 24 hours.
Do plastic pallets need ISPM-15 treatment for India?
No. ISPM-15 applies to wood packaging material. A plastic pallet is exempt — no heat treatment, no fumigation, no stamp, and no inspection hold at the port on that account.
Can you mould a non-standard footprint?
Yes. We run our own mould workshop, so footprints across the 600–1400 mm range are normal production. Send a drawing or sample and we will confirm tooling, lead time and price.
How to order
Send the footprint, material (HDPE or PP), the load rating that matches your actual use, monthly volume and discharge port. Reach us on WhatsApp +86 19311059570 or fstyx01@lsyplastic.com for an FOB Shenzhen quotation within 24 hours.
For full specifications read our plastic pallet sizes and dimensions guide, or browse the LSY plastic pallets hub. Importing crates instead? See the plastic crates India buyer guide. Running an electronics plant? See the ESD packaging India buyer guide.
