International Timber & Plywood Procurement Guide
What should a buyer specify when importing timber, plywood and wood panels?
Timber and panel procurement depends on species or panel type, grade, thickness and size, moisture content, glue class for panels, surface finish, and legality documentation for the origin. Container loading is decided by weight and volume together — a container of hardwood and a container of light panel product behave completely differently. Specifying grade and moisture content is what prevents the most common post-delivery disputes.
Published 2026-09-19 · Reviewed by the REPONS procurement desk · Next review 2027-03-19 · 8 min read
What to specify
| Attribute | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Species / panel type | Determines strength, appearance and price band |
| Grade | Defines permitted defects — the most common dispute source |
| Thickness and panel size | Affects yield on site and container loading |
| Moisture content | Drives movement, warping and mould on arrival |
| Glue class | Interior, humid or exterior service for panels |
| Surface | Sanded, filmed, veneered, melamine |
| Packing | Bundles, pallets, edge protection, wrapping |
| Legality documentation | Origin and harvest legality evidence |
Container economics
Dense hardwood reaches the weight limit long before the container is full; light panel product fills the volume first. Ask suppliers to quote the loading plan in both tonnes and cubic metres so the freight cost per usable unit can be compared honestly.
Inspection before shipment
Grade and moisture content should be verified before the container is sealed. Once the goods are at destination, a grade dispute is slow and usually settled below the real loss.