BlueLinx Holdings Inc. (NYSE:BXC), Atlanta, GA, distributor of building products in North America, reported sales of $500.8 million for the second quarter ended July 2, 2011, down 7.4 percent from the prior-year period. The distributor reported a net loss of $9.8 million.
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The sales decline reflects a 27.1 percent decrease in structural product sales partially offset by a 10.7 percent increase in specialty product sales. The specialty sales gain was driven by a 16.5 percent increase in unit volume, as the company continues its focus on value-added products, partially offset by lower specialty product prices. Approximately two-thirds of the decline in structural product sales resulted from decreased unit volume as the company focused on preserving its structural product margins against steadily deteriorating wood-based structural product prices during the quarter. Overall unit volume declined 0.5 percent compared to the year-ago period.
For the six months ended July 2, 2011, the distributor's net loss was $22.1 million. Revenues for the six months were $891.4 million, down 8.3 percent, reflecting lower specialty and structural product prices, and lower structural product unit volume that was partially offset by a 15 percent increase in specialty product unit volume.
