§1The market
Arkansas had 48 private establishments in NAICS 321920, wood container and pallet manufacturing, in the 2025 annual average, 1.5% of the U.S. total of 3,143. That ranks 22nd of the 50 states with QCEW data for the industry.
That is down 18.6% from 59 in 2020, against +5.8% nationally.
Employment averaged 1,074 in 2025 (+5.0% since 2020), at an average annual pay of $39,847, 26.6% below the industry's national average.
For raw material, Arkansas had 106 sawmill establishments (NAICS 321113) in 2025, employing 3,926 in 2025. Sawmills outnumber pallet plants in the state.
Pallet plants were recorded in 25 counties in 2025.
Freight context: retail diesel in the Gulf Coast (PADD 3) region averaged $5.871 a gallon in October 2026, +77.0% on a year earlier (EIA).
§2Arkansas by year
| Year | Plants | Employment | Average pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 59 | 1,023 | $32,329 |
| 2021 | 57 | 1,029 | $34,484 |
| 2022 | 53 | 998 | $38,951 |
| 2023 | 53 | 978 | $40,851 |
| 2024 | 51 | 1,091 | $37,984 |
| 2025 | 48 | 1,074 | $39,847 |
Sawmills (NAICS 321113) in Arkansas: 2020 117, 2021 115, 2022 112, 2023 113, 2024 110, 2025 106.
§3What it means for buyers
Arkansas's 48 plants give a workable in-state field, but a secondary supplier may need to come from a neighbouring state; Texas has the most nearby capacity (190 plants).
Supply clusters in Fayetteville, AR, Little Rock, AR, Fort Smith, AR; see the metro pages below.
States with a similar number of plants: Washington (46), Virginia (60), Iowa (44), New Jersey (60).
Ask each bidder which plant will ship to you, and price delivery as its own line in the bid-leveling sheet.
§4Metro areas
| Metro area | Plants | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | 10 | 316 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | 8 | 105 |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | 6 | 157 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 20 | 584 |