§1The market
Rhode Island had 5 private establishments in NAICS 321920, wood container and pallet manufacturing, in the 2025 annual average, 0.2% of the U.S. total of 3,143. That ranks 46th of the 50 states with QCEW data for the industry.
That is down 16.7% from 6 in 2020, against +5.8% nationally.
Employment averaged 149 in 2023 (+25.2% since 2020), at an average annual pay of $49,234, 5.7% below the industry's national average.
For raw material, Rhode Island had 2 sawmill establishments (NAICS 321113) in 2025. Pallet plants outnumber sawmills in the state.
Pallet plants were recorded in 3 counties in 2025.
Freight context: retail diesel in the New England (PADD 1A) region averaged $6.452 a gallon in October 2026, +63.5% on a year earlier (EIA).
§2Rhode Island by year
| Year | Plants | Employment | Average pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 6 | 119 | $40,557 |
| 2021 | 6 | 113 | $46,504 |
| 2022 | 6 | 147 | $47,165 |
| 2023 | 6 | 149 | $49,234 |
| 2024 | 5 | not disclosed | not disclosed |
| 2025 | 5 | not disclosed | not disclosed |
Sawmills (NAICS 321113) in Rhode Island: 2020 4, 2021 3, 2022 3, 2023 3, 2024 2, 2025 2.
§3What it means for buyers
With only 5 plants, buyers in Rhode Island should expect to source across state lines, starting with Massachusetts (32 plants), and should agree delivery charges and lead times carefully.
Supply clusters in Providence, RI; see the metro pages below.
States with a similar number of plants: Delaware (4), Alaska (5), Vermont (4), New Mexico (6).
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 7 | 156 |
§5Neighbouring states
| State | Plants | Average pay (latest disclosed) |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 32 | $67,492 |
| Connecticut | 19 | $51,324 |