Logging, among the oldest of American industries, has become one of the most controversial. Environmentalists have severely attacked harvesting practices, and they have scored significant victories.
Despite a strong U.S. economy in the late 1990s, which spurred demand for wood products in residential and light commercial construction, as well as for residential repair, remodeling, and home improvements, this industry experienced only modest growth.
Hardwood flooring and furniture components make up the largest shares of output in this industry segment. The remaining output includes many items, such as skis, golf clubs, and tool handles.
The value of sawmill product shipments declined from $24.1 billion in 1999 to $20.9 billion in 2001. Wood chip shipments, which accounted for roughly 10 percent of total industry shipments, declined from $3.04 billion to $2.86 billion over the same time period.
According to the U.S. Labor Department and the U.S.
Throughout the late 1990s, kitchen and bath cabinet sales increased every month. Total industry shipments reached $11.7 billion in 2000, compared to $9.0 billion in 19997.
This classification covers establishments primarily engaged in producing commercial hardwood veneer and those primarily engaged in manufacturing commercial plywood or prefinished hardwood plywood. This includes nonwood backed or faced veneer and nonwood faced plywood, constructed from veneer produced in the same establishment or from purchased veneer.
This classification includes establishments primarily engaged in producing commercial softwood veneer and plywood from veneer produced in the same establishment or from purchased veneer. Establishments primarily engaged in producing commercial hardwood veneer and plywood are classified elsewhere in SIC 2435: Hardwood Veneer and Plywood.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, engineered wood member manufacturers operating in the United States shipped $1.8 billion worth of goods, compared to $1.7 billion in 2000.
This industry classification includes companies that are primarily engaged in the production of nailed and lock corner wood boxes (lumber or plywood) and shook for nailed and lock corner boxes.
This classification covers establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing wood or wood and metal combination pallets and skids.
This classification covers makers of nearly any wooden container that is not either a pallet or a nailed or lock corner box. Many containers in this classification are made from staves, heads, and hoops—a group of products called cooperage.
After a decade of unprecedented growth in the 1990s, manufactured homes builders entered the new millennium with a thud, struggling through their worst time since emerging from the recreational vehicle industry in the 1960s. As the new millennium dawned, the largest manufactured home builders all reported a decrease in sales and profits resulting in closure of factories, industry layoffs, reduction in retail outlets, as well as the drying up of executive bonuses.
Companies that primarily make prefabricated wood buildings, sections, and panels make up the prefabricated wood buildings and components industry. Manufactured and mobile homes delivered to a site are not part of this industry.
The wood preserving industry is comprised of establishments primarily engaged in treating wood—sawed or planed in other establishments—with creosote or other preservatives to prevent decay and protect against fire and insects. The industry also cuts, treats, and sells poles, posts, and pilings; however, establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing other wood products, which they may also treat with preservatives, are classified elsewhere.
The reconstituted wood products industry is comprised of establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing hardboard, particleboard, insulation board, medium-density fiberboard (MDF), waferboard, oriented strand board (OSB), and other panelized products made from wood chips and particles.
This category includes establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing miscellaneous wood products, not elsewhere classified, and products made from rattan, reed, splint, straw, veneer, veneer strips, wicker, and willow.