CLEVELAND – According to Pallets, the latest report from The Freedonia Group Inc., U.S. demand for pallets is forecast to advance more than one percent annually through 2012 to 1.5 billion pallets valued at $16.8 billion. Pallets made from wood — primarily lumber — will continue to account for the largest share of the U.S. pallet market, while plastic pallets will experience the most rapid gains in demand.

Wood pallets are forecast to account for almost 80% of demand in 2012. Demand for wood pallets is projected to increase at a rate just below that of the market average, however. Demand increases will be restrained by the growth of pallet refurbishing services and environmental concerns about the waste generated by damaged and discarded pallets. Meanwhile, demand for plastic pallets is projected to advance 2.4% per year to over 130 million pallets in 2012.

The 241-page report is available for $4,500 from The Freedonia Group Inc. For further details, please contact Corinne Gangloff by phone (440) 684-9600, fax (440) 646-0484 or e-mail [email protected].