Numill meets modern demand for timber, boards and innovative building supplies • WoodBiz Africa / SA Forestry

Numill sources quality timber from local and global suppliers.

Founded in January 1989, Numill is a leading South African wholesaler of timber and building materials, supplying manufacturers and resellers across Southern Africa. Built on a foundation of reliability, trust, and long-standing relationships, Numill has established itself as a respected, dependable partner in the building materials industry.

The company was founded by Pierre Venter, who began Numill from his Cape Town apartment after gaining experience in South African pine and other products at what was then part of PG Wood.

Starting with South Africa, the business quickly evolved, driven by strong market demand and Pierre’s entrepreneurial vision. In 1994, David Shaw joined Numill, becoming Pierre Venter’s right-hand man and playing a pivotal role in shaping the company’s operational growth and long-term success.

Together, they assembled a resolute team of experts and expanded Numill from a small operation into a national wholesale business.

Numill has navigated over 30 years of changing market conditions by maintaining strong international supplier relationships and a customer-focused approach, ensuring consistent supply and product expertise.

Today, Numill operates offices in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, and Gqeberha, supplying a comprehensive range of timber and building materials to customers across South Africa and neighbouring regions.

The company’s product range has evolved alongside the industry, expanding from a hardwood-focused offering into a diverse portfolio of timber and building materials designed to meet the needs of modern construction and manufacturing businesses.

: Numill’s friendly Johannesburg team.

: Particleboard for Africa.

Imported hardwoods

Numill imports an extensive range of hardwoods from trusted suppliers across North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Species such as American White Oak and Meranti are widely used in furniture manufacturing, cabinetry, joinery, and architectural applications, offering both durability and aesthetic appeal. Numill’s global sourcing ensures consistent quality, reliable availability, and a broad selection of hardwood options.

SA Pine

Complementing its hardwood offering, Numill supplies locally sourced pine products from across South Africa. Available in treated and untreated options, and in structural, industrial, and furniture grades, pine remains a versatile and cost-effective solution for construction, roof trusses, furniture manufacturing, and general carpentry.

Local sourcing supports dependable supply while strengthening South African’s forestry and manufacturing industries.

Numill’s vast warehouse in Cape Town.

Plywood and boards

Numill also supplies a comprehensive range of plywood and boards to suit structural, commercial, and specialised applications. The plywood range includes OSB, marine plywood, birch plywood, pine plywood, shutterply, commercial plywood, and bending plywood. These products are widely used in construction, concrete formwork, furniture manufacturing, interior finishes, and custom joinery, offering strength, stability, and flexibility across a wide range of project requirements.

Boards such as chipboard, hardboard, MDF, and doorskins support cabinetry, furniture production, wall linings, and door manufacturing. They are sourced locally and from Europe, South America, and Asia, ensuring consistent quality and compliance with international standards.

Building supplies

Further expanding its offering, Numill supplies ceiling solutions, including ceiling plaster, gypsum boards, and thermal insulation. These products are used across residential, commercial, and industrial projects, contributing to thermal performance, acoustic control, fire resistance, and clean interior finishes.

Numill’s fibre cement range is among the most innovative in its portfolio. Manufactured in Thailand, the range includes fibre cement boards, planks, and fascia boards, providing durable, low-maintenance solutions suitable for both internal and external applications.

In 2026, Numill will introduce a new decorative fibre cement range from its manufacturing partner, offering evolving market designs that combine durability with modern aesthetic appeal.

Decking

Decking solutions form another key component of Numill’s offering. Imported from South Asia and South America, the decking range includes hardwood species such as Balau and Garapa, valued for their strength, durability, and performance in outdoor environments. Pine decking is also available, with plans underway to expand into fibre cement decking, offering customers additional low-maintenance alternatives.

To complement its core product range, Numill supplies H20 beams for concrete formwork applications and PVC corner planks used for clean, durable finishes in both internal and external building projects.

Reliable stock and delivery

Numill’s strategically located warehouses and branches efficiently serve customers nationwide. Strong coordination capabilities, experienced warehouse teams, and well-established supply chains ensure reliable stock availability and on-time delivery, even for high-volume, time-sensitive projects.

At the heart of Numill’s success is a commitment to long-term partnerships, reliable supply, and deep product knowledge. By combining local expertise with international sourcing, Numill continues to support the growth of its customers and the broader building materials industry across Southern Africa.