What is ISPM-15 and why does it apply to your export?

ISPM-15 — International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 — is a biosecurity rule that governs all wooden packaging used in international trade. It exists because untreated timber can carry pests and diseases across borders: bark beetles, pine wood nematode, and Asian longhorn beetle are all spread via raw wooden crates. Most of South Africa’s major trading partners enforce it, and goods arriving in non-compliant crates are refused at the border, fumigated at the importer’s expense, or destroyed.

In practice, ISPM-15 requires that all solid wood used in crates, pallets, dunnage, and bracing be either heat-treated (HT) to 56°C for a minimum of 30 minutes throughout the wood, or methyl bromide fumigated (MB). Heat treatment is the industry standard — MB is being phased out globally. Compliant wood carries a stamp: the IPPC mark (a wheat sheaf), country code, producer code, and the treatment abbreviation (HT or MB).

South Africa is a signatory. JLog’s custom export crates are built entirely from plywood, a processed wood that ISPM-15 exempts, so they need no treatment or stamp — we never use reclaimed or untreated solid wood.

How to build an export crate — the 9-step process

A professionally built export crate is not a box with a lid. It is an engineered container that survives container-ship swells, forklift drops, and customs inspections. Here is what a proper build looks like:

1. Measure the item — net and gross. Internal dimensions are the item plus protection layer plus clearance. External dimensions determine freight cost and ocean freight cubic billing. Both matter.
2. Design to the fragility rating. Fine art, ceramics, and electronics need a floating inner layer (foam suspension or spring mounts) that absorbs shock before it reaches the object. Machinery and industrial goods need rigid blocking and bracing instead. Matching the design to the fragility class prevents both damage and over-engineering.
3. Choose ISPM-15 compliant material. Either build entirely from plywood or another processed wood, which ISPM-15 exempts, or use heat-treated solid timber in which every piece carries the IPPC stamp. One unstamped solid batten or cleat in an otherwise plywood crate makes the crate non-compliant.
4. Build the base first. The base takes the forklift tines, pallet jack, and stacking weight. It must be over-engineered relative to the item weight. Forklift tine gaps must match standard fork dimensions (100mm minimum clearance).
5. Install the inner protection layer. Closed-cell polyethylene foam (PE) for impact absorption. Expanded polystyrene (EPS) for lighter fragile items. Custom-cut cavities ensure zero movement inside the crate. The item must not contact wood at any point.
6. Record the condition before closing. Photograph the item from all angles before it goes into the crate and date the photographs. This is your evidence for any transit damage claim. Without it, the carrier can dispute liability. If JLog builds your crate, condition reports are available on request.
7. Assemble the sidewalls and lid. Structural timber frame with sheathing. Screw-fastened, not nail-only — nailed crates fail under vibration. The lid must be removable by customs inspectors without destroying the crate.
8. Band and seal. Polyester strapping banded crosswise and lengthwise. Fragile labels on all four sides. Orientation arrows (This Way Up). Destination address, shipper address, and consignment reference on a weatherproof label attached directly to the wood.
9. Issue the crating certificate. For some destinations (notably Australia and New Zealand), the freight agent must provide documentation confirming ISPM-15 compliance. JLog’s crates are built from plywood, which ISPM-15 exempts.

What does export crating cost in South Africa?

Crating cost depends on four factors: internal dimensions, item weight and fragility, destination (affects documentation requirements), and whether collection is included. The table below shows JLog’s 2026 rate ranges as a starting guide. All figures are VAT-inclusive.

All prices are Cape Town workshop rates, VAT-inclusive, excluding collection and freight. Contact JLog for a fixed quote — we reply within 4 business hours of receiving item dimensions.

Destination-specific crating rules

ISPM-15 is the baseline — but individual countries layer additional requirements on top. Here is what to know for the destinations where JLog ships most frequently. Import duty rates and VAT vary by destination and HS code — see our import duty guide for the full picture on what your buyer will pay on arrival.

Seven common export crating mistakes

Should you build your own crate or use a specialist?

A DIY crate built from certified ISPM-15 timber by someone with carpentry skills can technically satisfy the compliance requirement. But the question is not just compliance — it is whether the crate will protect the item through the full journey. Ocean freight involves stacking loads, ship vibration, temperature swings, humidity, and forklift handling. Air freight involves pressure changes and rapid temperature cycling.

For fragile goods shipping, the DIY route carries significant risk. An underbuilt crate that fails in transit leaves you with a damage claim, a dispute with the carrier, and potentially no recourse if the condition documentation was not done correctly. The cost of a professional crate is almost always less than the cost of replacing or repairing a damaged high-value item.

Get a crating quote from JLog

JLog builds export crates from our Woodstock, Cape Town workshop. Every crate is built entirely from plywood, so it’s exempt from ISPM-15 and needs no treatment or stamp. We handle the full export from South Africa — crating, customs documentation, carrier booking, and tracking — under one roof.

To get a quote, send us the item dimensions (length × width × height in cm), weight, destination country, and a brief description of what it is. We reply within 4 business hours.