What rubberwood is
Rubberwood is the timber of the Hevea brasiliensis rubber tree, harvested at the end of the tree's latex-producing life (typically around 25–30 years). It is a plantation-grown, renewable hardwood — which is part of why it dominates packing-grade plywood production in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Southeast Asia: there is a steady, managed supply.
Rubberwood has a pale, even grain, moderate density (~550–620 kg/m³), and takes glue and nails well. It is not a structural hardwood, but for packing and crating it punches well above its cost.
Rubberwood plywood grades
| Grade | Standard | Bond | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| MR — Moisture-Resistant | IS 303 | UF (urea-formaldehyde) | Dry transit by road, rail and container; indoor use |
| BWR — Boiling-Water-Resistant | IS 303 | MF (melamine-fortified UF) | Humid ports, monsoon transit, longer outdoor exposure |
| BWP — Marine | IS 710 | Phenolic (WBP) | Permanent water exposure — over-specified for ordinary crating |
For most export packing cases and crates, MR or BWR is the right grade. BWP/marine rubberwood ply exists but is rarely specified for packaging; see marine plywood for those applications.
Rubberwood vs hardwood (gurjan/keruing) plywood
| Property | Rubberwood ply | Hardwood ply (gurjan/keruing) |
|---|---|---|
| Density | Moderate (~550–620 kg/m³) | High (~700–800 kg/m³) |
| Weight | Lighter | Heavier |
| Strength | Good for packing | Higher — suited to structural/container flooring |
| Cost | Lower | Higher |
| Best for | Packing cases, crates, general panels | Heavy crates, container flooring, structural boards |
If you're building light to medium export cases, rubberwood packing-grade ply is usually the most cost-efficient choice. Where the case must carry heavy structural load, a hardwood-framed design with rubberwood skin panels is common. See also what plywood for packing cases and Okoume vs gurjan.
Common thicknesses
Rubberwood packing-grade plywood is made in standard thicknesses: 4, 6, 9, 12, 16, 19 and 25 mm. Custom thicknesses are produced to order. Sheet size is typically 8'×4' (2440×1220 mm); custom sizes including 10'×5' are made to order.
Specifying it correctly
When ordering, state: grade (MR or BWR), thickness, sheet size, and face/back appearance requirement. The IS 303 standard covers both MR and BWR bonds; the grade is determined by the adhesive used. We confirm the exact specification on your proforma invoice. See commercial / packing-grade plywood.