West Fraser Puts Leola Sawmill On Hold
West Fraser announced that it will indefinitely curtail its Huguley oriented strandboard (OSB) mill in Lanett, Ala. and sawmill in Leola, Ark. These curtailments are expected to take effect in the fourth quarter following orderly wind-downs.
These decisions are the result of continued weakness in demand for wood products used in new home construction and repair and renovation applications, according to the company. These actions are expected to reduce West Fraser’s OSB capacity by 500MMSF and southern yellow pine lumber capacity by 225MMBF on an annual basis.
“Over the last quarter, housing affordability continued to be a key constraint for wood products demand, which remains soft,” says Sean McLaren, West Fraser President and CEO. “We were also impacted by higher energy-related input costs. Our teams responded by running mills to demand, reducing inventory and controlling costs.
“Decisions like this are never easy because of the impact they have on our employees, their families and the communities where we operate. We are grateful for their hard work and contributions, and we are committed to supporting them through this transition.”
Latest News
Washington Lumber Companies Merge To Form Alta Forest Products
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1548381510056-0’); }); TMI Forest Products and Welco Lumber Company USA have become Alta Forest Products LLC, a partnership between longtime Western Red Cedar manufacturers. Morton-based Alta took over the ownership, operations and assets…
Mills To Arizona And New Mexico Senators: Give Us More Timber
On the edge of what promises to be another hot, drought-fueled wildfire season, timber companies working under the U.S. Forest Service’s expiring 10-year White Mountain Stewardship Project are running short of wood. Eastern Arizona loggers…
Eacom Sawmill Rebuild In Ontario Near Completion
The reconstruction of the Eacom sawmill in Timmins is just a couple of months from being completed. It will be take longer, however, before mill operators can settle back and declare the job done. “We…
Financing Approved For Proposed Arkansas Sawmill
The Arkansas Economic Development Commission has approved $5 million in financing to aid a timber company in the proposed purchase of an abandoned plant in Union County. The commission approved the financing this week for…
Find Us On Social
Newsletter
The monthly Timber Processing Industry Newsletter reaches over 4,000 mill owners and supervisors.
Subscribe/Renew
Timber Processing is delivered 10 times per year to subscribers who represent sawmill ownership, management and supervisory personnel and corporate executives. Subscriptions are FREE to qualified individuals.
Advertise
Complete the online form so we can direct you to the appropriate Sales Representative.