Wood, Paper and Packaging Materials from the United States: Export Buying Guide

Buying wood, paper and packaging materials from the United States starts with a clear specification and an identified receiving market. Wigmore Trading can assess a sourcing or logistics brief and clarify what is needed for a written offer. A guide or product list is not confirmation of stock, supplier appointment or approval to trade a particular item.

Define the requirement before requesting prices

Record the material, grade, dimensions, moisture requirements and intended conversion process. Sawn wood, logs, carpentry products, pulp, paper and completed packaging have different acceptance criteria. For paper, specify grammage, coating, width, roll or sheet format and print requirements. Packaging orders need drawings, closure details and load expectations.

Specify the performance the material must deliver

For cartons and containers, agree stacking, protection and handling requirements for the actual contents. For labels and brochures, confirm artwork, substrate, finish, quantities and proof approval. Recovered paper needs a defined grade, contamination limits and usable yield. Pulp and cellulose orders should identify the process and analytical properties that matter to the receiving mill.

Products to distinguish in your enquiry

The following are separate specification lines. Identify the exact product, grade or model and intended use rather than requesting an undifferentiated mixed shipment.

• Sulfate Chemical Woodpulp
• Sawn Wood
• Recovered Paper
• Kraft Paper
• Paper Containers
• Cellulose Fibers Paper
• Rough Wood
• Brochures
• Kaolin Coated Paper
• Toilet Paper
• Fuel Wood
• Cellulose
• Other Printed Material
• Other Uncoated Paper
• Shaped Paper
• Dissolving Grades Chemical Woodpulp
• Corrugated Paper
• Paper Labels
• Metal Stoppers
• Wood Carpentry

Protect the cargo and verify the route

For timber, establish species, origin, legal sourcing evidence and the destination plant-health requirements for the exact form. Discuss moisture protection and ventilation with the shipper. Identify whether recycled materials are classified as products or waste before shipment. Include pallet, roll and bundle weights and the unloading method in the freight enquiry.

Compare the full commercial scope

Ask each supplier to quote the same specification, quantity, condition, packing basis and named delivery point. List the currency, quote validity, inspection scope, payment milestones and treatment of non-conforming goods. Request actual packed dimensions and gross weights before comparing freight options.

Keep product price separate from collection, export preparation, freight, insurance, destination charges, duties, storage and final delivery. Identify the party responsible for each stage. Do not pay for a shipment whose destination acceptance or essential technical specification is still unresolved.

Prepare a sourcing brief

Send the specification or catalogue reference, quantity and expected repeat demand, receiving location, required date and any supporting drawings or quality requirements. Say whether the enquiry is for an approved replacement, a new production input or resale. Ask for the manufacturer and origin to be identified; a source-country dispatch address alone does not establish origin.

Use the US sourcing directory to compare related product guides, or the US commercial shipping guide when preparing cargo details.

Reviewed 1 November 2026. Gallery images illustrate procurement and logistics; they do not identify offered stock.