Lumber Wholesalers Industry Profile

Companies in this industry engage in the merchant wholesale distribution of lumber and plywood products, wood windows and doors, and millwork. Major US companies include Forest City Trading Group, HD Supply (formerly a division of Home Depot), Lumber Products, Pro-Build Holdings, and Tumac Lumber.

The US lumber wholesalers industry includes about 5,500 companies with combined annual revenue of about $110 billion and is expected to experience moderate growth over the next two years. Key growth drivers include the rebound of the US housing and remodeling markets.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Demand for lumber and plywood is strongly affected by the level of residential real estate construction. Profitability depends on efficient operations. Large wholesalers are more likely to serve large customers, with operations in multiple markets.

The lumber wholesalers industry is fragmented: the 50 largest companies generate about 40 percent of revenue.

PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

Lumber wholesalers buy truck or railcar loads of lumber and other wood products from sawmills and plywood plants, and resell them to retail lumberyards, home improvement centers, large homebuilders, industrial users, and building products distributors. Only the largest companies have more than 100 employees; the average wholesaler has fewer than 20. National and regional wholesalers usually have several offices that serve local customers. Most companies operate locally, serving local customers and buying from local mills.

Although some wholesalers have lumberyard operations, wholesaling is mainly a trading operation. Some wholesalers specialize in lumber, others in plywood ...