The latest figures from the Association of Pallet Networks (APN) hail record volumes, with 15.7 million pallets delivered in 2013 by member networks.
It's impressive and it does seem there have been more pallets delivered via members of the APN then ever before. However those with long memories may now be puzzling over that headline figure.
That's because annual volumes in 2012 were put at close to 16 million by APN - so how come the association is claiming 2013's volumes are 13% up year-on-year? Something doesn't add up.
The reason, in short, is politics. 2012's volumes were drawn from a membership of eight networks (UK Pallets has never been a APN member, and associate member Hazchem Network does not contribute to the volume figures).
However, Pall-Ex pulled out of APN membership for 2013 (prompting APN to rework the figures for its latest year-on-year comparison). As of the start of this year, Pall-Ex is back on board so a membership of seven will become eight once more (in terms of contribution to that overall volume figure).
It also means that if a big network such as Pall-Ex had contributed pallet volume data to APN's 2013 total, we'd likely of seen at least an additional one to two million one top of that headline total, meaning the symbolically significant 20 million pallets delivered mark is drawing ever nearer.
Expect more growth amongst APN's members. After all, as Palletline member Kevin Buchanan said last year, there are still far more pallets moved directly than through pallet hubs, providing plenty of scope for APN members to continue growing.