Sawmills and Wood Preservation
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 2,600 sawmills and wood preservation companies in the US produce and treat a variety of wood products, including structural elements and dimension lumber. Major revenue categories include softwood lumber, hardwood lumber, preserved wood products, and wood chips. Sawmills may provide wood preservation services as a final step of production. Some large companies are vertically-integrated and own timberland or downstream operations, including divisions involving real estate ownership and residential construction.
Sensitivity To Economy And Construction Activity
Demand for wood products is highly dependent on the health of the construction and household furniture industries, both of which are sensitive to economic conditions.
Variable Timber Costs And Supply
The cost and supply of timber can be volatile, and affect margins and profitability for sawmills and wood preservation services providers.
Industry size & Structure
The average sawmill and wood preservation firm operates out of a single location, employs about 35-36 workers, and generates $18 million annually.
- The sawmill and wood preservation industry consists of about 2,600 firms that employ 91,600 workers and generate $47.8 billion annually.
- Sawmills account for 90% of firms and 78% of industry revenue.
- The sawmill industry is fragmented; the top 50 companies account for 53% of industry revenue. The wood preservation industry is concentrated; the top 50 companies account for 85% of industry revenue.
- Large companies with sawmill operations include Weyerhauser Company and PotlatchDeltic Corporation. Large companies that provide wood preservation services include Koppers Holdings and the US operations of Canada-based Stella-Jones.
- Some large companies are vertically-integrated and own timberland or downstream operations, including divisions involving real estate ownership and residential construction.
Industry Forecast
Sawmills and Wood Preservation 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.
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