Which pallet for which chemical product?

Why 9 different models?

The CP system — defined by the VCI (the German chemical industry association) and specified by the ECTA — standardised 9 pallets to cover the main uses of European chemical logistics. Three criteria separate the models:

• The footprint — from 760×1140 mm (CP5) up to 1100×1300 mm (CP4/CP7), including the container-optimised square 1140×1140 mm (CP3/CP8/CP9)
• The construction — skid pallets with an open bottom deck (CP1-CP5) or perimeter-base pallets with a closed frame (CP6-CP9)
• The load rating — indicative values that vary by manufacturer (the CP specification sets no handling load per model): 1,500 kg dynamic / 4,000 kg static for CP1 and CP3 to CP7, no indicative value for the CP2, and higher values often stated by manufacturers for CP8 and CP9 (2,000 kg / 6,000 kg, as an indication)

Choosing the wrong model means unstable containers, risky stacking, or wasted deck and container space. Because the specification is industry-wide, a CP3 loaded in France is the same CP3 expected at a packing line in Antwerp, Rotterdam or Tarragona — chemical buyers order by model number, not by description.

By packaging type

Steel or plastic drums, 200 L

A standard 200 L drum is about 585 mm in diameter; a 1000×1200 mm deck takes 4 drums in a 2×2 layout.

• Road transport, standard flows: CP1 (1000×1200 mm, skids) — the reference drum pallet and the best-selling CP model in Europe
• Warehouse stacking of loaded pallets: CP6 (same 1000×1200 footprint, perimeter base) — a stable seat for stacked levels
• Containerised sea export: CP3 (1140×1140 mm, skids) or CP9 (1140×1140 mm, reinforced perimeter base) — two pallets side by side fill the ISO container width

IBCs (Intermediate Bulk Containers), 1000 L

Composite IBCs have a standard 1200×1000 mm footprint, which points directly to the matching CP formats:

• CP1 (1000×1200 mm, skids) — occasional IBC moves and light or partially filled IBCs
• CP6 (1200×1000 mm, perimeter base) — the safer choice for repeated handling of full IBCs, thanks to the closed frame

⚠️ A full 1000 L IBC weighs 1,000 to 1,200 kg, which is close to the indicative ratings of the CP1 and CP6: ask on what basis the rating was established, as explained in our dynamic vs static load guide. For intensive rotation with full IBCs, prefer the CP6 — or a custom reinforced pallet sized for the real load.

Powder or granulate bags, 25-50 kg

For stacked bags (powders, granulates, polymers, fertiliser chemistry), the key criterion is a tight, closely boarded deck, so the bags do not sag between the boards under stacking pressure.

• Standard bags, 1000×1200 pattern: CP1 — 30 to 50 bags in an interlocked pyramid
• Bulky bags, wide patterns: CP4 (1100×1300 mm, the largest skid format) or its perimeter-base twin CP7 when stacking
• Bagged goods boxed on the Euro footprint: CP2 (800×1200 mm — the only CP in the Euro format)

Big bags (FIBC), 500 kg to 1.5 t

Big bags (~1 m³ of granulates, powders or aggregates) concentrate up to 1.5 tonnes on one pallet — they need the reinforced end of the CP range:

• CP8 (1140×1140 mm, perimeter base, central discharge hole) — the purpose-built FIBC pallet: the bag's spout discharges straight through the deck, and manufacturers often state higher ratings for the CP8 and CP9 than for the other CP models (2,000 kg dynamic / 6,000 kg static, as an indication)
• CP9 (1140×1140 mm, perimeter base): the same format without a discharge hole, for big bags that are not discharged on the pallet
• Beyond 2,000 kg per pallet: custom reinforced build, quoted per load and dimensions

Octabins

Octagonal bulk containers sit naturally on the square 1140×1140 mm format: CP3 (skids) for standard weights, CP9 (reinforced perimeter base, 6,000 kg static) for heavy octabins and intensive stacking — a common configuration in polymer flows shipped by container.

Cartons, cans, jerrycans (small containers grouped)

For chemical products in 1-25 L containers grouped in cartons:

• Cartons on the Euro footprint: CP2 (800×1200 mm) — compatible with logistics systems calibrated for 800×1200, with CP-grade construction
• Sea-container optimisation: CP5 (760×1140 mm) — three pallets across the container width, the companion format of the 1140×1140 family

Decision table: packaging → CP model

Export outside the EU: ISPM 15 on every model

Chemical flows leaving the European Union — including containerised exports through Antwerp, Rotterdam or Le Havre — require ISPM 15 treated wooden pallets (heat treatment at 56 °C for 30 minutes, IPPC marking). Treatment is available on request for all 9 CP models. Check the destination in our ISPM 15 country list and the full rules in the ISPM 15 guide.

Beyond pure chemistry: sectors with the same requirements

Other industries specify CP pallets for the same reasons — robustness, standardisation, clean handling:

• Pharmaceuticals and cosmetics — CP1, CP2 and CP6 for bags and cartons in clean environments
• Industrial food ingredients (additives, flavours) — CP1/CP6 under IBCs, CP8/CP9 under big bags of dry ingredients
• Paints and solvents — CP1 or CP6 depending on containers (25-50 L cans or pots)
• Construction chemistry — CP8/CP9 for cement additive, mortar and admixture bags in bulk volume

For a case not covered here, our guide CP pallets: which model (CP1 to CP9)? details each model with its exact dimensions and typical use — or ask us directly.

Frequently asked questions

Which pallet for 200 L drums?

4 drums in a 2×2 layout: CP1 (1000×1200, skids) for road flows, CP6 (perimeter base) when stacking, CP3/CP9 (1140×1140) for sea containers.

Which pallet for 1000 L IBCs?

The IBC footprint (1200×1000 mm) matches the CP1 and CP6. A full IBC weighs 1,000 to 1,200 kg, which is close to the indicative ratings of both models: ask on what basis the rating was established, and prefer the CP6 for repeated full-weight handling, or a custom reinforced pallet.

Which pallet for powder bags?

CP1 as the standard, CP4/CP7 for bulky patterns, CP2 on the Euro footprint. The closely boarded deck keeps stacked bags from sagging between the boards.

Which pallet for big bags?

CP8 — its central hole allows discharge on the pallet, and manufacturers often state higher ratings for the CP8 and CP9 than for the other CP models (2,000 kg dynamic / 6,000 kg static, as an indication). CP9 when no discharge hole is needed.

How does delivery work?

📦 Delivery by full truckload from 300 pallets — below that, pickup at one of our 3 depots in the Paris region, France. Lead times by destination are on our European delivery page. Intra-EU supply: invoice without VAT with your valid EU VAT number (reverse charge, Art. 138 of Directive 2006/112/EC).