Report shows UK-sourced timber made up 76.4% of pallet sector use in 2025, reflecting rising domestic reliance.

An estimated 49 million wooden pallets were repaired for reuse in the UK during 2025, up around 4% on the 47.1 million repaired in 2024, according to the latest UK Wood Pallets & Packaging Market Report.

The report, commissioned by the Timber Packaging and Pallet Confederation (TIMCON) alongside Forest Research, points to a sustained trend of pallet repair and reuse within the sector.

Preliminary results from this year’s study were presented by Guy Watt, managing director at Clegg Consulting, during TIMCON’s Annual General Meeting and industry event held in Edinburgh in September.

The current edition of the study is being expanded in collaboration with the National Association of Pallet Distributors (NAPD) to capture more detailed data on reuse, with comprehensive findings to be released later in the year.

Combined figures for pallets manufactured and repaired in the UK now stand at approximately 91 million, up from 81 million when the market survey was launched in 2015.

The report also highlights increasing reliance on domestic materials, with UK-sourced timber accounting for around 76.4% of the wood used by pallet companies in 2025.

Survey respondents identified recruitment and workforce retention as the most significant operational challenges, closely followed by rising costs.

Nevertheless, responses indicate some degree of confidence in the market outlook, as 70% of companies expected sales growth in 2027, compared with 10% anticipating a decrease.

TIMCON president John Dye said: “We are really pleased to see the positive trend towards repair and reuse continuing, as well as the overall growth in the wooden pallet and packaging market since we first began this survey.”
  
Source: ttjonline.com