§1The market
The Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metropolitan statistical area had 6 private wood container and pallet manufacturing establishments (NAICS 321920) in the 2024 QCEW annual average. Among the 128 metro areas with at least five such plants, it ranks 105th by count.
The metro area spans VA, NC, so its plants are not all in Virginia; compare with the state pages for each.
That is up from 5 in 2020 (+20.0%).
BLS disclosed employment of 78 for 2022, with average annual pay of $38,506, against $47,813 statewide and $51,296 nationally.
7 sawmill establishments (NAICS 321113) were also counted in the metro in 2024.
Diesel in the Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C) region averaged $5.744 a gallon in October 2026 (EIA), the freight context for deliveries here.
§2By year
| Year | Plants | Employment | Average pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 5 | not disclosed | not disclosed |
| 2021 | 5 | not disclosed | not disclosed |
| 2022 | 5 | 78 | $38,506 |
| 2023 | 7 | not disclosed | not disclosed |
| 2024 | 6 | not disclosed | not disclosed |
BLS had not published 2025 metro-area figures when this page was built; state pages carry 2025.
§3Buying here
With 6 plants, the Virginia Beach, VA area has a small local field; invite bidders from the wider state as well, and compare delivered cost, not price at the plant. An establishment is a location, not a company, so two plants may belong to one supplier.
Other metro areas in Virginia: Richmond, VA (14).
Larger metro clusters in neighbouring states: Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC (38), Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN (30), Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN (24).