NAICS 113310 Quarterly Industry Report
Logging
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 113310Sector: Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting (11)Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This Fair Market Value industry report for NAICS 113310 provides valuation-focused intelligence for professionals assessing logging and timber harvesting businesses. Additional data is drawn from U.S. Census Bureau[7].. Data is sourced from USDA Forest Service[5] timber removal statistics, Bureau of Labor Statistics[6] logging industry employment data, and SBA size standards[8] to support business appraisals, acquisition due diligence, lending decisions, and investment analysis for logging enterprises.
Industry Definition & Overview
Logging (NAICS 113310) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in cutting timber, cutting and transporting timber, and producing wood chips in the field. This classification covers a range of timber harvesting operations from mechanized whole-tree harvesting systems to manual chainsaw-based logging crews working in terrain that limits equipment access. The U.S. Census Bureau[4] classifies logging separately from timber tract ownership (NAICS 113110) and forestry support services (NAICS 115310), recognizing the distinct capital-intensive harvesting function these operations perform in the forest products supply chain.
The U.S. logging industry serves as the critical link between timberland owners and wood products manufacturers, delivering raw material to sawmills, pulp mills, veneer plants, and biomass energy facilities. The USDA Forest Service[5] Forest Inventory and Analysis program tracks annual timber removals across all ownership classes, with the Southeast and Pacific Northwest accounting for the majority of commercial harvest volume. Industry structure ranges from small independent logging contractors operating single crew operations to large multi-crew companies with mechanized feller-buncher, skidder, and processing equipment fleets valued at several million dollars per production unit.
Business valuations for logging operations center on equipment fleet condition and replacement cost, established timber supply contracts and stumpage purchasing relationships, crew productivity metrics, and geographic market position relative to mill demand centers. Appraisers must evaluate heavy equipment depreciation schedules, maintenance histories, and remaining useful life alongside operating metrics including tons per man-hour, delivered cost per ton, and equipment use rates. The Bureau of Labor Statistics[6] tracks logging industry employment, wages, and workplace safety data that inform labor cost projections in income-based valuation models.
What's Included in This Industry
- Sector-specific valuation multiples and financial benchmarks for logging and timber harvesting operations
- Revenue and profitability analysis across mechanized harvesting, manual logging, and in-woods chipping segments
- SBA size standard classification and lending threshold data for NAICS 113310
- Comparable transaction data from recent logging company sales, equipment fleet transfers, and timber contract assignments
- Regional market analysis covering delivered log prices, stumpage rates, and mill demand across major timber-producing regions
- Workforce and labor cost benchmarking for equipment operators, chainsaw fellers, truck drivers, and crew supervisors
- Industry risk assessment including equipment breakdown, weather delays, timber supply volatility, and worker safety exposure
- Regulatory compliance overview covering harvest permits, road construction standards, water quality protections, and OSHA safety requirements
- Capital expenditure profiles for feller-bunchers, skidders, loaders, log trucks, and portable chipping equipment
- Production metrics including tons per man-hour, equipment use rates, delivered cost per ton, and crew efficiency benchmarks
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 11 |
| Subsector | Forestry and Logging | 113 |
| Industry Group | Logging | 1133 |
| NAICS Industry | Logging | 11331 |
| National Industry | Logging | 113310 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 113110 | Timber Tract Operations | Timber tract operations that sell standing timber stumpage rights to logging contractors who then perform cutting and transportation of harvested logs |
| 321113 | Sawmills | Sawmill establishments that receive delivered logs from logging operations for processing into dimensional lumber, timbers, and structural wood products |
| 115310 | Support Activities for Forestry | Forestry support service providers performing timber cruising, road layout, and reforestation work that precedes and follows logging harvest operations |
| 321211 | Hardwood Veneer and Plywood Manufacturing | Hardwood veneer and plywood manufacturing plants that purchase high-grade hardwood logs from logging operations for peeling and slicing into veneer sheets |
| 423310 | Lumber, Plywood, Millwork, and Wood Panel Merchant Wholesalers | Lumber and construction material merchant wholesalers who purchase processed timber products derived from logs delivered by logging operations |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | 7.9% | 592 |
| 2 | Alabama | 6.7% | 499 |
| 3 | Georgia | 6.0% | 444 |
| 4 | North Carolina | 5.8% | 433 |
| 5 | Washington | 5.5% | 409 |
| 6 | Maine | 5.2% | 387 |
| 7 | Mississippi | 5.1% | 381 |
| 8 | Arkansas | 4.5% | 335 |
| 9 | Michigan | 4.2% | 311 |
| 10 | Virginia | 4.1% | 306 |
% Of Establishments
0%
8%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[2]
SBA Lending Summary
416
Total SBA Loans
$85.9M
Total Loan Volume
$206K
Average Loan Size
8 yrs
Average Loan Term
10.12%
Average Interest Rate
1,608
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[3]
Key Insight: The SBA[9] classifies Logging (NAICS 113310) with a size standard of 500 employees. Most logging operations are small to mid-size contractor businesses that qualify for SBA-backed lending[10] and government contracting preferences, with equipment financing representing a primary use of SBA loan programs for logging enterprises. Eligible businesses can access SBA 7(a) loans[11] for working capital, equipment, and acquisition financing, while 504 loans[12] support major fixed-asset purchases including real estate and heavy machinery.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Commercial Bank & Trust Company | 24 | $22.9M | $955K |
| 2 | TD Bank, National Association | 24 | $12.4M | $517K |
| 3 | Southern Bancorp Bank | 16 | $9.1M | $571K |
| 4 | Newtek Bank, National Association | 24 | $7.8M | $327K |
| 5 | Katahdin Trust Company | 48 | $6.5M | $135K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What is the NAICS code for logging?
Logging is classified under NAICS code 113310, covering establishments engaged in cutting timber, cutting and transporting timber, and producing wood chips in the field per the U.S. Census Bureau[4] industry classification system.
What is the SBA size standard for logging companies?
The SBA[9] sets the size standard for NAICS 113310 at 500 employees, qualifying eligible logging companies for small business lending programs, equipment financing, and government contracting preferences.
How are logging operations valued?
Logging valuations focus on equipment fleet condition and replacement cost, timber supply contracts, crew productivity metrics, geographic market position, and customer relationships with mills per USDA Forest Service[5] industry data and equipment dealer market assessments.
What equipment do logging operations use?
Mechanized operations use feller-bunchers, grapple skidders, knuckleboom loaders, stroke delimbers, and log trucks, with individual production units costing over one million dollars per the Bureau of Labor Statistics[6] logging industry equipment and capital expenditure data.
What regions dominate U.S. timber harvesting?
The Southeast (Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and the Carolinas) and Pacific Northwest (Oregon and Washington) account for the majority of commercial timber harvest volume tracked by the USDA Forest Service[5] Forest Inventory and Analysis program.
What risks affect logging business valuations?
Major risks include equipment breakdown and replacement cost exposure, timber supply contract dependency, weather-related harvest delays, worker safety incidents, stumpage price volatility, and regulatory restrictions on harvest timing near waterways and sensitive habitats.
What is the logging industry workforce outlook?
The logging industry faces persistent labor shortages for skilled equipment operators and manual felling crews, with an aging workforce and physically demanding conditions contributing to recruitment challenges tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics[6] occupational employment data.
What regulations apply to logging operations?
Logging operations must comply with state forest practice acts governing harvest methods and road construction, federal OSHA[13] logging safety standards, Clean Water Act protections for streams and wetlands, and Endangered Species Act requirements in areas with protected wildlife habitat.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [3]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [4]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [5]USDA Forest Service fs.usda.gov
- [6]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [7]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [8]SBA size standards sba.gov
- [9]SBA sba.gov
- [10]SBA-backed lending sba.gov
- [11]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [12]504 loans sba.gov
- [13]OSHA osha.gov
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