Why the Kochi to Jebel Ali lane works
Our facilities are in Perumbavoor, Kerala, about 40 km from Cochin Port. Containers stuff at the factory, move to the Vallarpadam terminal, and load onto the India–Gulf services calling Jebel Ali. Direct sailings typically take 4 to 7 days port to port; transhipment routings run longer. For a UAE buyer, that means a replenishment cycle measured in weeks, not months, from confirmed order to cargo on the quay.
Jebel Ali clears cargo for Dubai and, by road, the rest of the Emirates, so most of our UAE consignments route through it. If you take delivery at another UAE port, name it in the enquiry and we will quote that routing. The Gulf is one of several lanes we run out of Cochin; the full list is on our export page.
What UAE buyers order from us
Three product families carry most of our UAE volume: shuttering ply for formwork contractors, packing-grade ply for case and crate makers, and commercial ply for fit-out and joinery. The rest of the range ships on the same lane.
| Product | Typical UAE use | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Film-faced shuttering plywood | Concrete formwork, repeated pours | Specified per project; full details on the product page |
| Packing-grade plywood, MR (IS 303) | Cases, crates, industrial packing | Typical thicknesses 6, 8, 12, 15 and 18 mm |
| Commercial and BWR plywood | Joinery, fit-out, general works | Okoume face veneer available on MR-packing and BWR grades |
| Marine plywood (IS 710 BWP) | Wet-duty applications | Quoted on enquiry |
| Plywood pallets, boxes and crates | Packers and re-exporters in the UAE | Made under an ISPM-15 compliant process |
| Container flooring ply, cable drums, sawn timber | Container repair, cable, packing support | Rubberwood and jackwood runners cut to size |
Where the specification calls for a lighter panel, Okoume is a face-veneer option rather than a separate grade. We also make calibrated E1 panels with an Okoume face and eucalyptus core, bare or HPL-laminated, for furniture and interior work.
Commercial terms that hold up in procurement
All export quotes are issued in USD. FOB Cochin is the default; CIF Jebel Ali is available on request, priced against current freight. We do not publish rates. Each quote is built against your thickness, size, grade and quantity, and the reply goes out within one business day.
Payment for standard products is 50 percent advance with the balance before dispatch. Custom specifications are 100 percent advance. We accept bank transfer (T/T). Every shipment carries our material guarantee: the panel that arrives matches the spec sheet quoted.
Paperwork, ISPM-15 and loading
Plywood panels are processed wood and exempt from ISPM-15, which removes one layer of phytosanitary paperwork for UAE importers. Assembled boxes, crates and pallets from our line are made under an ISPM-15 compliant process. Commercial invoice, packing list and shipping documents are ready when the container leaves, and loading is planned to the container's weight limit so dense ply is not undercounted or overloaded.
For background on how Gulf demand has shaped what we make, our GCC export notes cover the region in more detail.
Import essentials for the UAE
What your clearing agent needs to land a plywood shipment in the UAE. We quote FCA or FOB Cochin in USD; customs duty and any VAT are added at import on the CIF value.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| HS code | 4412 (plywood; the national item within 4412.31 / 4412.33 / 4412.34 / 4412.39 turns on panel construction and individual ply thickness as well as face species, and finished cases, pallets and drums are generally considered under 4415 — your broker confirms the line) |
| Customs duty | 5% GCC Common External Tariff on CIF value |
| VAT at import | 5% VAT, charged on the customs value plus customs duty — not on CIF alone |
| Landed-cost note | Indicative only — your broker must confirm the destination tariff line and the rates in force. Import VAT is not charged on CIF alone: the base is the customs value plus customs duty, and local law may add excise, fees and other incidental charges. |
| Conformity / standards | ESMA / ECAS where the product is regulated; GSO standards otherwise |
| Clears at | Jebel Ali or Khalifa Port |
| Documents we provide | Commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, bill of lading |
| ISPM-15 | Panels exempt; assembled crates stamped through a compliant process |