Quality standards for exported wood chips

Meeting the correct quality standards for exported wood chips is the condition for a shipment to be accepted by a pulp mill or particleboard mill, since every batch of chips must simultaneously meet the requirements for size, bark ratio, foreign matter, moisture content, and legal wood origin under the signed contract.

Wood chips are one of the bright spots of growth in Vietnam’s wood industry. In the first 6 months of 2026, Vietnam exported nearly 7.8 million tons of wood chips, earning about USD 1.3 billion, with China accounting for around 68.6% of the total volume. At that scale, a batch of chips with the wrong size, excessive bark content, or missing wood origin documentation all lead to price deductions, demands for regrading, or delayed clearance.

In this article, 3W Logistics compiles the current system of quality standards for exported wood chips – from the national TCVN standards, mandatory technical criteria, market-specific requirements, and legal wood documentation, to the inspection and quality certificate issuance process – helping businesses proactively prepare documentation and reduce the risk of being underpriced or having shipments returned.

1. General Standards for Vietnamese Exported Wood Chips

Overview of the National Standards Applicable to Wood Chips

Vietnam’s exported wood chips are mainly used as raw material for pulp production, with the remainder used for particleboard, fiberboard, or wood pellet raw material. The foundational technical standard for this product group is the TCVN 13654 series, published by the Ministry of Science and Technology in 2023, comprising two parts that share a common sampling and testing method:

• TCVN 13654-1:2023 (Wood Chips – Part 1): technical requirements and test methods for wood chips used in pulp production, the most common category of exported wood chips.
• TCVN 13654-2:2023 (Wood Chips – Part 2): technical requirements for wood chips used in particleboard and fiberboard production, referencing Part 1 for the sampling method and determination of bark ratio, decayed chip ratio, and foreign matter.
• TCVN 13534:2022 and TCVN 13535:2022: technical requirements and grading for wood pellets, applicable when wood chips or wood biomass are used as raw material for pellet pressing rather than being exported as chips.

Besides the technical standard, wood chips remain a forest product and are therefore also governed by Decree 102/2020/ND-CP (amended by Decree 120/2024/ND-CP) on the Vietnam Timber Legality Assurance System (VNTLAS), which regulates origin documentation for circulation and export.

Classification of Exported Wood Chips by Raw Material and Intended Use

Vietnam’s exported wood chips are classified by two main criteria: the type of raw wood and the intended use of the importing mill.

• By wood type: mainly acacia wood chips from plantation forests, along with eucalyptus and melaleuca chips. These are all broadleaf woods, distinct from softwood chips, which some markets classify separately under TCVN 13654-1:2022.
• By intended use: most of Vietnam’s exported wood chips are used as raw material for pulp production at paper mills in China and Japan; a smaller portion is exported to markets that use them as raw material for particleboard, fiberboard, or biomass fuel.

Chip Size and International Trade Standards

There is no single size specification that applies to every importing mill; each contract typically specifies its own size range, acceptable chip ratio, and tolerance level. Per technical documentation on wood chip trade from the International Plant Protection Convention, a commonly referenced size range in the pulp industry is a thickness of about 4-8 mm, a width of about 15-20 mm, and a length of about 40-45 mm, with an acceptable chip ratio usually required to be 90% or higher.

Businesses need to cross-check this specification against the specific terms in the contract and letter of credit (L/C) before chipping, since a proportion of chips that are too small or too large, exceeding the permitted limit, can lead to price deductions or demands for regrading.

2. Mandatory Quality Criteria for Exported Wood Chips

Under TCVN 13654-1:2023, exported wood chips must simultaneously meet four quality criteria: the acceptable chip ratio, bark ratio, decayed chip (dust/rot) ratio, and non-wood foreign matter ratio. If two or more criteria fail to meet the technical requirements, the batch of chips is assessed as failing. The table below summarizes the most important criteria businesses need to control before shipping.

Moisture Content and Bone-Dry Metric Ton (BDMT) Regulations

Wood chip moisture content is determined by drying the sample at 103°C ± 2°C until the weight is constant, then calculated using the formula specified in TCVN 13654-1:2023. In international trade, shipment weight is typically converted and paid for on a bone-dry metric ton (BDMT) basis – i.e., the weight of the wood chips at 0% moisture. This is why maritime inspection agencies such as Vinacontrol offer a dedicated service for inspecting wood chip dry weight converted to BDMT, independent of the wet weight at the time of loading.

Bark, Decayed Chip, and Non-Wood Foreign Matter Ratios

Bark, soil, sand, stone, metal, and other non-wood materials all reduce the commercial value of the chips, increase ash content, and cause equipment wear at the importing mill. TCVN 13654-1:2023 specifies separate determination methods for each criterion (bark ratio, decayed chip ratio, non-wood foreign matter ratio), with specific limits set out in Table 1 of the standard, to be cross-checked against the quality terms in the sales contract.

Packaging, Storage, and Transport

TCVN 13654-2:2023 specifies that bagged wood chips must be stored in a well-ventilated, dry warehouse with measures to prevent moisture, mold, and fire. For bulk-shipped wood chips, the specialized vehicle must be thoroughly cleaned to remove foreign matter such as soil, sand, and coal before loading, and must be covered with a tarp or net during transport to prevent contamination or weight loss.

3. Quality Standards for Exported Wood Chips by Target Market

Beyond the technical standard, each wood chip importing market has its own requirements for origin certification and specifications. The table below compares the core requirements across the main markets for Vietnamese wood chips.

The China Market: Contract-Based Specifications and Dominant Share

China is Vietnam’s largest wood chip importing market. In the first 6 months of 2026, the export price of wood chips to this market reached about USD 173.9/ton, up 22.3% year-on-year. Since there is no unified mandatory national standard specifically for imported chips, Chinese paper mills typically set their own size specification, maximum moisture content, and foreign matter ratio directly in the contract or letter of credit, so businesses need to carefully read the quality terms before chipping and shipping rather than applying a single standard level to every order.

The Japan Market: FSC Certification Requirement and High Uniformity

Japan is a traditional market for Vietnamese pulp-grade wood chips, and also a market with stricter origin requirements. Japanese buyers often require FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification to be attached, proving the wood chips were harvested from sustainably managed plantation forests, in addition to requirements for size uniformity and low foreign matter content. This is a commercial requirement of the buyer, distinct from the forest product statement, which is a mandatory document under Vietnamese law.

The EU Market and Other Markets Requiring Sustainable Forest Certification

For markets with high demands on origin and provenance such as the EU, wood and wood chips processed from FSC- or PEFC-certified raw material have easier market access. As of May 2026, the country had approximately 880,000 hectares of plantation forest certified under FSC or PEFC sustainable forest certification, out of a total of about 4.1 million hectares of production forest, so the supply of certified wood chips remains limited relative to the demand for expanding into these markets.

4. Legal Wood Documentation and Required Certifications for Exported Wood Chips

The Vietnam Timber Legality Assurance System (VNTLAS) and the Forest Product Statement

Decree 102/2020/ND-CP (as amended and supplemented by Decree 120/2024/ND-CP) sets out the Vietnam Timber Legality Assurance System (VNTLAS) for imported and exported wood, including criteria for classifying wood processing and exporting businesses and issuing FLEGT licenses. Under this system, wood chips in circulation and for export must have a forest product statement prepared by the wood owner, detailing the type, weight, specifications, and harvest origin; businesses must retain wood documentation for 5 years from the date of sale and comply with periodic reporting to the local Forest Protection authority.

Sustainable Forest Management Certification: FSC and PEFC

FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and PEFC are the two most common forest certification systems in wood chip trade. For wood, FSC-FM confirms that the raw material originates from a sustainably managed forest area, while FSC-CoC confirms the chain of custody of the product from harvest and processing through to the finished product. These are not mandatory requirements under Vietnamese law but are commercial requirements set by buyers, most common in the Japanese and EU markets.

Plant Quarantine and Fumigation

Not every wood chip shipment requires plant quarantine or fumigation; this process depends on the specific requirements of the buyer in each country. When the contract or the importing country’s regulations require it, businesses need to register with the plant quarantine authority or a designated fumigation unit before loading, similar to the process applied to other agricultural and forestry products.

5. Inspection Process and Tax Procedures for Exported Wood Chips

Step 1: Prepare wood origin documentation

Before chipping and loading, the business prepares the forest product statement under Decree 102/2020/ND-CP, proving the wood chips originate from legally sourced domestic plantation wood, together with a financial invoice as required by the Ministry of Finance.

Step 2: Sampling and quality testing

Chip samples are taken per the method specified in TCVN 13654-1:2023, then tested for moisture content, bark ratio, decayed chip ratio, and non-wood foreign matter ratio at a testing laboratory or by an independent inspection body.

Step 3: Weight inspection and draft survey

For bulk cargo exported by sea, the shipment weight is typically determined via a draft survey certificate, and then converted to bone-dry metric ton (BDMT) weight as the basis for payment under the contract.

Step 4: Customs declaration and export tax payment

Wood chips are subject to export tax under Decree 26/2023/ND-CP on the Export Tariff Schedule, with the commonly applied rate currently at 10% depending on the declared HS code. The business files the customs declaration together with the forest product statement, invoice, contract, and weight inspection certificate, and may then apply for a Certificate of Origin (C/O) at the VCCI if requested by the buyer.

Frequently Asked Questions About Exported Wood Chip Standards

Question 1: How is the moisture content of exported wood chips typically regulated?

Wood chip moisture content is determined by the drying method specified in TCVN 13654-1:2023 and is typically stated in the contract as a percentage of bone-dry metric ton (BDMT) weight; for acacia wood chips, the common level in commercial contracts is a maximum of about 45% BDMT, though the specific figure is still agreed between the two parties for each shipment.

Question 2: What should a business new to exporting wood chips prepare first?

A new business should start by establishing a legal raw material source and preparing the forest product statement under Decree 102/2020/ND-CP, checking the chipping and screening line to meet the contract’s size specification, and then working with an inspection unit to obtain weight and quality certificates matching the buyer’s requirements. If targeting the Japanese or EU market, the business should look into FSC or PEFC certification for its raw material area early on.

Question 3: What export tax do exported wood chips incur and which HS code is needed?

Exported wood chips are subject to export tax under Decree 26/2023/ND-CP, with the commonly applied rate currently at 10% depending on the HS code declared on the customs declaration. Businesses need to correctly determine the HS code and the scientific name of the raw wood species, since incorrectly declaring the species or scientific name can risk administrative penalties or confiscation of goods under forest product management regulations.

3W Logistics Accompanies Wood Chip Exporting Businesses

Fully meeting quality standards for exported wood chips is only a necessary condition; for a shipment to reach the partner on time and at the right quality also requires a logistics process that understands the specific characteristics of forest products. With experience handling a wide range of exported agricultural and forestry products, and registration as an OTI-NVOCC with an FMC (Federal Maritime Commission) bond in the United States, 3W Logistics provides an end-to-end wood chip export service for businesses:

• Legal wood origin documentation consulting: Support in preparing the forest product statement under Decree 102/2020/ND-CP and related documents before export.
• Connecting with reputable inspection units: Helping businesses work with inspection organizations to obtain weight (BDMT) and quality certificates on time.
• Bulk cargo loading plan consulting: Assisting from arranging vehicles and moisture-protective covering through to draft survey inspection at the loading port.
• Expertise in long-haul bulk cargo transport: Ensuring appropriate loading and storage conditions to limit weight loss throughout the journey.
• Electronic customs declaration and export tax consulting: Support in correctly determining the HS code, export tax rate, and handling issues that arise at the border checkpoint.
• Sea freight shipping to China, Japan, and other markets: Optimizing routes, transit times, and costs for large-volume bulk cargo.

Contact 3W Logistics for specific guidance on a path to meeting standards and export procedures for wood chips suited to your business’s target market.

Ms. Apple (CCO)

Ms. Apple is the CCO (Chief Commercial Officer) at 3W Logistics, with over 10 years of experience in sales and business operations management.

At 3W Logistics, Ms. Apple is responsible for commercial strategy, corporate customer development, managing a team of more than 50 sales professionals, and improving business performance in the logistics sector.

With practical experience in sales management and market development, Ms. Apple shares professional insights on business logistics solutions, international transportation, freight forwarding, customer management, trade lane development, and growth strategies in the logistics industry.