Commercial Plywood from Vietnam
Commercial plywood is the everyday, general-purpose plywood of the building and furniture trades. It is not made for formwork or for a show face, but for the hidden and working parts of a job: furniture carcasses, interior walls and partitions, flooring underlay, shelving and packaging. Because it covers so many uses, it is usually the plywood bought in the largest volumes by distributors and wholesalers.
Woodbase makes commercial plywood in Vietnam on acacia, eucalyptus or poplar cores, or a combination of hardwoods, faced with bintangor, okoume, birch or red hardwood veneer. Each order is sanded and graded to the buyer's specification, in sheets of 1220 × 2440 mm or 1250 × 2500 mm, or cut to size, from 3 to 25 mm thick (+/- 0.5 mm).
Choosing the Core
The core sets the weight, strength and price of the panel. Acacia and eucalyptus are dense plantation hardwoods that give a firm, strong panel that holds screws well. Poplar is lighter and easier to work, which suits furniture parts and lighter partitions. A combined core mixes species to balance strength and cost. Tell us what the panel will carry and we will suggest the core.
Face Veneers
Bintangor and okoume give a smooth, reddish-brown face that paints and laminates well. Birch gives a pale, even face. Red hardwood is the economical choice where the face will be covered by laminate, vinyl or paint. For panels where the natural wood face stays visible, see Furniture Plywood instead.
Grades
| Grade | Face and Back | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| BB/CC | B face with few, small repairs; C back with more knots and patches | Furniture carcasses, shelving, partitions, panels that are painted or laminated |
| C/D | C face; D back, the most open grade, for hidden sides | Flooring underlay, hidden structure, packaging |
Glue and Emission
| Glue | Best For |
|---|---|
| MR | Moisture resistant glue for dry interior use: furniture, shelving and partitions |
| Melamine | Better resistance to humidity at a moderate price, for kitchens and humid rooms |
| WBP (phenolic) | Weather and boil proof glue for areas that get wet |
For formaldehyde emission we supply E0, E1 or E2, and CARB P2 for buyers who need to meet the California and US emission rules. Moisture content is 12% or less.
Choosing the Thickness
Thin panels of 3 to 6 mm are used for cabinet backs, drawer bottoms and curved work. Partitions, wall lining and flooring underlay usually take 9 to 12 mm. Furniture carcasses and shelves are mostly 15 to 18 mm, and 21 to 25 mm is used for worktops, stair treads and heavy shelving that has to span a wide gap without sagging.
Checking Quality on Arrival
When the container is opened, check a few sheets from each crate: the panels should lie flat, the edges should show no gaps or overlaps between core veneers, the glue lines should hold when the edge is pried, and the thickness should be within +/- 0.5 mm of the order. Moisture should read 12% or less.
Common Uses
- Furniture carcasses: cabinet sides, backs, drawer bottoms and shelves that are covered with laminate or veneer.
- Interior walls and partitions in offices, shops and homes.
- Flooring underlay: a flat, stable base under vinyl, laminate or carpet.
- Shelving and storage in warehouses and retail fit-outs.
- Packaging, where a better panel than Packing Plywood is needed.
Ordering from Vietnam
The minimum order is 10 × 40ft HC, and we can supply about 30 × 40ft HC a month, paid by T/T or L/C, FOB Hai Phong or CIF. Under the EVFTA, Vietnamese plywood enters the EU at 0% tariff, and FSC certified plywood is available: see our certificates. For the full range, read our overview of plywood from Vietnam, or see Film Faced Plywood for concrete formwork. Send us the core, face, grade, glue, size, thickness and quantity, with your destination port, for a quote.
