Export pallets from Quonset and ProvPort

What leaves the bay

ProvPort at 35 Terminal Road on the Providence River handled more than 2 million tons of cargo and over 400 vessel arrivals in 2024, with scrap metal and equipment among its exports. Quonset describes the Port of Davisville as a top-10 auto importer in the country, and hosts offshore wind logistics. Vehicles and bulk cargo do not ride on pallets, but boxed equipment and many packaged goods do.

What ISPM 15 asks

The wood is heat treated, or fumigated, to the standard.
It carries the mark: the IPPC symbol, a country code, a producer code and a treatment code.
It has been debarked before treatment.
It has not been repaired with untreated wood afterwards.

ISPM 15 regulates wood packaging material in international trade. A pallet that is used only inside the country does not need it.

Requests that work

How an export request reads
Say	Why
Destination country or customer	Some customers set stricter rules than the standard
The size, such as 48 x 40	Container fit depends on it
Count and date range	Lets the supplier plan
New or used allowed	Used pallets with a valid stamp are acceptable to some, not all

The container problem

PHS advises packing pallets tightly in containers and vans to avoid shipping air. For containers, the size guide matters as much as treatment: a 48 x 40 and a Euro pallet pack very differently.

See reading the stamp and heat-treated pallets.

A short export checklist

Confirm the destination and read its wood-packaging rules.
Order pallets with a legible ISPM 15 mark on two faces.
Check size against the container or trailer plan.
Keep pallets dry and cool before loading.
Keep a photograph of the stamp with the shipping paperwork.

Customs rules change, so confirm them with your forwarder before ordering a large run of stock.

A word about forwarders

Freight forwarders and customs brokers know the rules of each destination and can tell you whether stamped pallets are required. Ask them before you order; they see the rejections that other shippers cause, and a quick call can prevent one.