Plywood and Engineered Wood Manufacturers
Industry Profile Report
Dive Deep into the industry with a 25+ page industry report (pdf format) including the following chapters
Industry Overview Current Conditions, Industry Structure, How Firms Operate, Industry Trends, Credit Underwriting & Risks, and Industry Forecast.
Call Preparation Call Prep Questions, Industry Terms, and Weblinks.
Financial Insights Working Capital, Capital Financing, Business Valuation, and Financial Benchmarks.
Industry Profile Excerpts
Industry Overview
The 1,000 companies in the US produce a variety of wood-based and wood-like products, including plywood, veneer, and reconstituted wood products. Major revenue categories include plywood and veneer (hard or soft wood); reconstituted wood sheets and boards (particle board); roof and floor trusses; and engineered wood products. Firms may also manufacture related products or kits, such as outdoor furniture, pergolas, or specialized saws. Engineered wood is a term that may apply to the entire industry (veneer, plywood, reconstituted wood, trusses, and composite products) or just composite products.
Sensitivity to Economic Conditions and the Construction Sector
Demand for plywood and engineered wood products is highly dependent on the health of the construction industry, which is sensitive to economic conditions.
High Capital Requirements
Production of plywood and engineered wood products requires an investment in specialized equipment and machinery.
Industry size & Structure
The average wood product manufacturer operates out of single location, employs about 83 workers, and generates $37 million annually.
- The plywood and engineered wood product manufacturing industry consists of about 1,000 firms that employ about 83,000 workers and generate $37 billion annually.
- Most sub-industry categories are concentrated; the top 50 companies account for 89% or more of industry revenue for manufacturers of plywood and veneer, engineered wood, and reconstituted wood products. The top 50 companies account for 66% of industry revenue for truss manufacturers.
- Plywood and veneer manufacturers account for about 27% of industry revenue and 23% of firms. Reconstituted wood manufacturers account for 29% of revenue and 13% of firms. Truss manufacturers account for 33% of revenue and 55% of firms.
- Large companies include Louisiana-Pacific Corporation, Trex Company, and Roseburg Forest Products. Weyerhauser Company, Georgia-Pacific, and Boise Cascade have wood product manufacturing operations.
Industry Forecast
Plywood and Engineered Wood Manufacturers Industry Growth
Recent Developments
Nov 25, 2024 - Single-Family Permits Rise, Housing Starts Drop
- The number of building permits issued for single-family, privately-owned housing units, a demand driver for appliances, increased 0.5% month-over-month but declined 1.8% year-over-year in October 2024. Single-family housing starts fell 6.9% month-over-month and decreased 0.5% year-over-year in October. Single-family housing completions dropped 1.4% month-over-month and fell 0.2% year-over-year in October. The decline in homebuilding activity was partly due to project disruptions from Hurricane Helene in late September and Milton in October, according to Reuters. High interest rates and a lack of affordability also continue to hinder the US housing market.
- Home builder confidence in the single-family market increased in November, marking the third consecutive month of sentiment improvement, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Home builder sentiment, as measured by the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), rose three points to 46 in November 2024. Any HMI reading over 50 indicates that more builders see conditions as good than poor. The NAHB said builders are generally upbeat about the election outcome, and future sales expectations improved in November. The HMI survey also showed that 31% of builders reduced home prices in November, and the average price reduction fell slightly to 5% from 6% in October.
- Home improvement industry observers expect remodeling spending to rise in 2025 as more homeowners borrow against the rising equity they have in their homes, according to The Wall Street Journal. After a significant uptick during the pandemic, as people were stuck at home, remodeling spending has been lackluster. Higher interest rates also made it more expensive to finance major renovations. In September 2024, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the first time in four years. Rates are expected to continue dropping, which could prompt many homeowners to leverage the value locked in their homes and take out loans for improvements.
- In the third quarter of 2024, there were about 24,000 single-family built-for-rent (SFBFR) housing starts in the US, up 41% from the same period in 2023, according to National Association of Home Builders analysis of US Census Bureau data. During the four most recent quarters, 92,000 SFBFR homes began construction, which is up 31% compared to how many were built in the previous four-quarter period. While the historical four-quarter moving average market share for SFBFR is about 2.7% (1992-2012), SFBFR’s current four-quarter moving average market share is about 7.5%. Single-family built-for-rent homes provide an alternative for consumers who want more space but are challenged by a lack of affordable housing inventory, high interest rates, and downpayment requirements in the for-sale market.
Get A Demo
Vertical IQ’s Industry Intelligence Platform
See for yourself why over 60,000 users trust Vertical IQ for their industry research and call preparation needs. Our easy-to-digest industry insights save call preparation time and help differentiate you from the competition.
Build valuable, lasting relationships by having smarter conversations -
check out Vertical IQ today.