SHIPPING PALLET MARKET

INTRODUCTION TOSHIPPING PALLETMARKET

Pallets are horizontal platforms which offer a base for storing, handling, assembling and transporting products and materials. They are a type of tertiary packaging affixed with a superstructure and a bottom.

Pallets are portable and easy to handle as they help in simplifying the process of loading and unloading and ensure safe delivery of the product. As a result, they are extensively used by suppliers and manufacturers of commercial goods across the globe.

SHIPPING PALLETMARKET DYNAMICS

Containerization is a system of intermodal freight transport using intermodal containers. The growth of containerization worldwide has increased the use of pallets because shipping containers have smooth, level surfaces that permit quick pallet movement with forklifts of varied sizes.

The use of pallets makes it easier to move heavy stacks in containers. Moreover, containerization helps in reducing congestion in ports, shortening shipping time, and reduces loses from damage and theft.

In industrializing countries, manufacturing output will not be the sole driver of market advances, however. In these nations, pallet utilization is typically low relative to the size of their manufacturing, warehousing, and construction sectors.

Going forward, greater numbers of potential pallet users will strive to become more competitive on a global scale by improving operating efficiencies and reducing product damage in shipments through the use of pallets.

SHIPPING PALLET MARKET GROWTH DRIVERS

1. There has been a rise in the expenditure on both housing and infrastructure activities owing to a significant increase in disposable incomes and rapid urbanization. This is one of the major factors which has been propelling the market growth.
2. Manufacturers have increasingly started using multiple-trip pallets instead of single-trip pallets as they offer lower cost per-trip, eliminate solid waste and enhance operational efficiency. This has, in turn, positively influenced the growth of the market.
3. Over the past years, there has been a significant development in the logistics and transportation sectors as well as trade volume of numerous emerging nations which have contributed towards an augmented demand for pallets across the globe.
4. The limited availability of pallets and increasing cost of raw materials are some of the other factors which act as major factors impeding the growth of the global pallet market.

SHIPPING PALLET MARKET SEGMENTATION

On the basis of type, the market has been segmented into wood, plastic, metal and corrugated paper. Amongst these, wood pallets exhibit a clear dominance in the market as they are lightweight, stiff, durable and cost effective.

On the basis of structural design, the market has been segmented into Block, Stringer and customized. The stringer is the most widely used design which is used by the automotive, steel and food and beverages industry. Customized the fastest growing market in amongst others as it is the most preferred by high technology, electronics industries.

Pallets currently find myriad applications across various sectors which include food and beverage, chemical and pharmaceutical, machinery and metal, and construction. The food and beverage sector currently represents the largest segment.

SHIPPING PALLET MARKET RECENT ACQUISITION

Leading supply chain services provider Propak has been acquired by Pallet Logistics of America (PLA), a portfolio business of Silver Oak Services Partners and an asset-based pallet management services provider. Warehousing, transportation, reverse logistics, and freight brokerage services are some of the top services that Propak offers on a nationwide scale.

Propak, which has its corporate office in Ft. Smith, Arkansas, employs 1,700 workers across more than 60 locations around the country. With the acquisition of Propak, PLA is now a national provider of supply chain solutions, offering Pallet Management Services, 3PL Services, Reverse Logistics Services, Freight Brokerage & Transportation Management Services, and was previously the largest provider of pallet management services in the western US.

"With a fragmented supply chain, the two companies' combined offering gives clients more product and service reliability and enables us to expand into new markets. A national provider of supply chain solutions, PLA was established in 1989 and has its corporate headquarters in Dallas, Texas.

It offers Pallet Management Services, 3PL Services, Reverse Logistics Services, Freight Brokerage & Transportation Management Services, and manages more than 115 million pallets annually for more than 500 clients.

SHIPPING PALLET MARKETTRENDS IN THE INDUSTRY

1. Pallets are anticipated to witness significant demand in the foreseeable future as these are utilized to create a cold environment. Pallets are stacked together to develop clad-rack warehouses as they support their own weight along with providing a vertical cladding.

These racks are widely used in cold storage due to surface and height optimization. As a result, manufacturers of storage pallets will witness huge demand in the future from the growing regional food processing industry.

2. Increasing deployment of smart pallets in most regions is expected to propel the demand for pallets in the coming years. Smart pallets comprise of an RFID microchip placed inside the central plank of the pallet, to collect information in real time. Smart pallets offer a solution for product tracking, asset tracking, and inventory management.

In the coming years, the need of smarter pallets is anticipated to increase as the supply chain is likely to become automated. Moreover, utilization of pallets is gaining attraction among new users. Owing to growth of manufacturing, construction, warehousing, and construction sectors globally, pallet utilization will readily increase.

Vendors have started using robots for processes such as pallet nailing, pallet dismantling, and pallet repair. In future, robots are expected to boost production with limited personnel requirement. This factor is likely to contribute significantly towards the growth of global pallet market.

3. Non-wood pallets or alternative pallets are anticipated to witness massive increase in demand in several regions such as Europe and North America. Among these, plastic pallets will remain the most attractive option due to the ease with which these can be cleaned.

In addition, they are not only more likely to be made from recycled materials, but also be recyclable themselves.

This is a very attractive benefit for companies, which are focused on being sustainable in the long run.

SHIPPING PALLET MARKETCOMPANIES PROFILED

There are several leading pallet manufacturers, that include:

• Brambles Ltd
• CABKA Group GmbH
• Ergen Plastic Industries
• Greif Inc
• LEAP India Pvt. Ltd
• Nefab AB
• Nilkamal Ltd
• Schoeller Arca Time Materials Handling Solutions Ltd
• Sintex Plastics Technology Ltd
• The Supreme Industries Ltd