MATERIAL PRICES
Pallet Price Today: Price, Trends and Forecast 2026 | Tacto
06.07.2026
Current pallet price: EUR-1 new exchange pallet DACH around 12.17 EUR per unit, with the HPE solid wood for pallets index at 109.88 in June 2026 (+1.0 percent M/M, +16.0 percent Y/Y; July reading mid-July). Trend analysis on the PPWR reuse mandate five weeks out (12 August), the spruce roundwood correction (120 to 125 EUR per cubic metre) and current market price bands for new and used pallets. Scenarios and procurement recommendations for European industrial buyers.
METHODOLOGY
For pallet pricing, the lead reference is the new EPAL exchange pallet price band tracked monthly by PalettenReport across over 1,500 reports, supplemented with the HPE solid wood for wooden pallets sub-index. Real procurement costs additionally include pallet class (new vs Class A/B/C), pool exchange logic, ISPM 15 heat treatment for export, logistics and seasonal demand, none of which are inside the wood index itself.
AT A GLANCE
- In five weeks (12 August) the PPWR reuse mandate takes effect; procurement pulled forward supports demand, pooling capacity is getting tighter.
- The cost base is turning: spruce roundwood since mid-June at 120 to 125 EUR per cubic metre, 7 to 10 EUR below the March record; relief with a 4 to 8 week lag.
- HPE solid wood for pallets index at 109.88 points in June (+1.0 percent versus May); EUR-1 indicator around 12.17 EUR; July reading mid-July.
- New pallets 21.50 to 28.90 EUR (single), around 10 to 13 EUR in truckloads; export B/C cheapest since 2023.
Contents
What is moving the price right now?
In five weeks, on 12 August, the PPWR reuse mandate for transport packaging takes effect. The Delegated Act of 25 February exempts pallet wrapping and strapping; the rest of transport packaging is in scope. Procurement pulled forward ahead of the deadline keeps supporting demand for reusable pallets, and pooling capacity is getting tighter in the coming weeks.
The cost base is turning the other way: spruce roundwood in the benchmark grade has corrected to 120 to 125 EUR per cubic metre since mid-June, 7 to 10 EUR below the March record. This relief reaches pallet prices with a 4 to 8 week lag. The HPE solid wood for pallets index stands at 109.88 points in June (+1.0 percent versus May), with momentum halved from spring; the July reading appears mid-July.
In the market, new pallets cost 21.50 to 28.90 EUR in single purchases and around 10 to 13 EUR in truckloads. Used class A sits at 11 to 13 EUR, B and C remain oversupplied; export pallets in class B/C are the cheapest since 2023.
What we watch: the HPE July reading in mid-July and pooling availability in the run-up to 12 August.
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What does this mean for procurement in DACH?
Complete the inventory by 12 August: which transport packaging falls under the reuse obligation, and which (pallet wrapping, strapping) is exempt? Starting the transition in August means competing with the rest of the market for tightening pooling capacity.
Use the roundwood correction as a negotiating argument on new-pallet orders: 120 to 125 EUR per cubic metre instead of over 130 belongs in every price negotiation before the July index reading appears.
Bundle requirements into truckloads: the gap between single purchase (21.50 to 28.90 EUR) and truckload (around 10 to 13 EUR) is currently the largest single saving factor on new pallets.
Weigh pooling against own stock with the PPWR deadline in the contract; anchor standard EUR pallets to the HPE solid wood for pallets index.
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Pallet Price Forecast: Our Procurement Intelligence Team's Assessment
Base Scenario
EUR-1 new at 12.00 to 12.50 EUR over the next four to six weeks. (1) Procurement pulled forward ahead of the 12 August PPWR deadline supports demand, (2) the spruce correction to 120 to 125 EUR per cubic metre relieves the wood base with a lag, (3) used classes B and C remain oversupplied. Stabilisation more likely than another rise.
Risk Scenario
The HPE index rises above 112, PPWR transition effects and EPAL capacity ceilings tighten new pallets, or the roundwood correction reverses. Probability 20 to 25 percent over the next three months.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When your application is high-volume, closed-loop (same origin and destination), and geographically concentrated. In such scenarios, rising new-pallet costs combined with improved pool-system utilization (CHEP, iGPS, PECO) have shifted the total-cost-of-ownership calculus in favor of lease models for 2026. However, pool systems require operational discipline and asset-tracking capability — they’re not a universal replacement for owned pallets.
Most sensitive right now are ISPM 15 heat-treated export pallets, custom non-standard formats, and closed-loop high-volume applications evaluating pool systems. These segments are where heat-treatment capacity constraints, format premiums, and operational economics show up first.
Lumber is important but too narrow as a sole reference. While softwood lumber (typically 60–70% of pallet cost) is the dominant driver, procurement costs also reflect heat-treatment capacity constraints, format premiums, transportation, and manufacturer margins. For your price validation, a decomposition approach (lumber + treatment + format + delivery) is significantly more defensible than a single lumber price.
The indicator is a market anchor, not a 1:1 purchase price. It tracks the BLS Producer Price Index for Wood Pallets and Skids (WPU0841) and is supplemented with current pallet-specific lumber, heat-treatment, and supply chain intelligence. Your actual procurement costs additionally depend on pallet design (GMA 48×40" standard vs. custom), condition (new vs. reconditioned), ISPM 15 heat-treatment status, and whether you’re purchasing ownership or leasing via pool systems (CHEP, PECO, iGPS).
