What does PBR stand for?

PBR stands for Palete Brasileiro (Brazilian Pallet). It is Brazil's national standard wooden block pallet, defined under ABNT NBR 9151. The 1000×1200 mm footprint was chosen to suit Brazilian truck widths and warehousing standards.

What is the official PBR pallet standard?

The PBR pallet is standardised by ABNT (Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas) under norm NBR 9151. The standard specifies the 1000×1200 mm footprint, 150 mm deck height, 4-way fork entry, and timber requirements. Eucalyptus hardwood is the most prevalent material.

How many PBR pallets fit in a Brazilian semi-trailer?

A typical Brazilian 14 m semi-trailer or bi-trem with a 2.6 m interior width holds 28 PBR pallets — 14 rows of 2 pallets each, with the 1000 mm side running across the width and the 1200 mm side along the trailer length. Single-tier loads; double-stacking lighter goods doubles the position count.

Is the PBR pallet the same as the IND industrial pallet?

The footprint is identical — 1200×1000 mm — just oriented differently by convention. China's GB/T 2934 standard calls the same dimensions a 1200×1000 mm pallet with 1200 mm as the length; Brazil's ABNT NBR 9151 names it 1000×1200 mm with 1000 mm as the length. On a vehicle floor or in a racking bay they occupy the same space.

Do PBR pallets need ISPM 15 treatment for export?

Yes. Any solid wood pallet used in international shipments must comply with ISPM 15. Brazilian exporters heat-treat pallets to 56 °C core for 30 minutes and mark them with the IPPC wheat-ear symbol, BR country code, and HT stamp. Treatment is mandatory for all major import markets including the EU, USA, and Australia.

Can I use PBR pallets with European racking?

Yes, but with adjustment. Standard European selective racking is designed around the EUR pallet's 1200 mm depth. A PBR pallet placed with its 1200 mm side into the rack fits the beam span, but the 1000 mm width is 200 mm wider than a EUR pallet, so you lose roughly one column per bay in rack configurations designed for EUR width.

Does CHEP operate in Brazil?

Yes. CHEP has a rental pool in Brazil using PBR-sized pallets. The operating model is the same as elsewhere: CHEP owns the pallets, customers pay a daily rental fee per pallet in circulation. The pallets are collected, repaired, and reissued. This gives Brazilian shippers access to a managed pool without the one-way pallet cost.

PBR Pallet Dimensions — 1000×1200 mm

Brazil's national wooden pallet standard under ABNT NBR 9151

Drag to rotate · Scroll to zoom

Length

1.00m

Width

1.20m

Total height

150mm

Max static load

1,500 kg

Max dynamic load

1,000 kg

Max rack load

750 kg

Material

Hardwood (Eucalyptus / Pine)

Fork entry

4-way

PBR pallet in practice — Brazilian truck fit, storage, and the IND comparison

Brazilian truck fit

PBR pallet capacity in common Brazilian vehicle configurations

Toco (2-axle, ~9 m cargo)

18 PBR pallets (9 × 2) — single tier

Semi-trailer / bi-trem (14 m)

28 PBR pallets (14 × 2) — single tier

VUC urban delivery van (3 m)

4 PBR pallets (2 × 2) — single tier

ABNT NBR 9151 standard

The PBR pallet (Palete Brasileiro) was standardised under ABNT NBR 9151. It calls for a 4-way entry block pallet with a 150 mm deck height. Eucalyptus is the most common timber choice in Brazil because of its high density and plantation availability.

Same footprint as the IND pallet

The PBR (1000×1200 mm) and the industrial IND pallet (1200×1000 mm used in China and India) share the same physical footprint — just rotated 90°. On a vehicle floor or racking shelf they occupy identical space. The difference is naming convention and orientation.

No unified pallet pool

Brazil has no single national pallet exchange comparable to Europe's EPAL. Pallets are owned outright or rented from regional logistics providers. CHEP operates a rental pool in Brazil, offering PBR-sized pallets to major retailers and manufacturers.

Quick reference

Length	1.00m
Width	1.20m
Total height	150mm
Max static load	1,500 kg
Max dynamic load	1,000 kg
Max rack load	750 kg
Fork entry	4-way
Model	PBR / Block

PBR Pallet — Frequently Asked Questions

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