• Article

How to Prepare Your Pallet Supply for the Festive Season Peak

The festive season puts pressure on every part of the South African supply chain. Retail and FMCG volumes climb from November, agricultural exports keep moving, and many suppliers and customers slow down or close over the December break.

Pallets are easy to overlook until you cannot get enough of them. This article sets out a practical plan to secure your pallet supply before the peak arrives.

1. Forecast Your Peak Demand

Start with the numbers you already have:

  • Pallet usage in the same period last year
  • Confirmed orders, promotions and seasonal contracts for the coming weeks
  • Expected export volumes and shipping dates
  • A buffer for demand you cannot predict

2. Confirm Lead Times and Cut-Off Dates

Ask your supplier for clear dates, in writing:

  • The last date to place an order for delivery before your peak
  • Standard and urgent lead times at current volumes
  • Their closing and reopening dates over the December break
  • Delivery windows that fit your receiving hours

3. Order Early and Build a Buffer

Reactive pallet buying is expensive at any time of year, and more so in peak season. Order ahead of the rush and hold a sensible buffer so one delayed delivery does not stop a dispatch.

Pallets ordered in a rush tend to cost more, arrive later and leave less room to check quality. The cheapest time to secure peak-season supply is before the peak begins.

 

4. Lock In Your Specification

Last-minute specification changes slow everything down. Before you order, confirm:

  • Pallet size and entry type (two-way or four-way)
  • Load rating for your heaviest unit loads
  • Any retailer or customer pallet requirements
  • Whether the pallets are for export

5. Sort Export Pallets Early

Export pallets must be heat treated and carry the ISPM-15 stamp before they are loaded. Shipping cut-offs do not move for pallet delays, so build treatment time into your plan and order export pallets first.

6. Inspect and Repair Your Existing Fleet

Your own pallets are part of your peak capacity. Before volumes rise:

  • Count what you have and check its condition
  • Pull damaged pallets from circulation
  • Send repairable pallets for repair so they are back in service in time
  • Chase pallets sitting at customers or in transit

7. Store Pallets Correctly Before the Rush

  • Store pallets in a dry, open and well ventilated area
  • Keep stacks flat and stable, and off wet ground
  • Group by size and condition so the right pallet is easy to find
  • Keep clear access for forklifts at peak

Plan Now, Move Freely Later

A short planning exercise now protects your dispatch schedule when volumes are highest. The aim is simple: the right pallets, in the right place, before you need them.

Anglo SA has been supplying South African businesses with quality wooden pallets since 1998. Our team can help you plan quantities, specifications and delivery schedules ahead of the peak.

Get in touch today to discuss your pallet requirements.

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