A five-year plan to strengthen Ontario’s forest industry by expanding biomass projects that turn waste wood into energy and other useful projects has been announced by the provincial government. The plan is designed to open new markets, increase demand for bioenergy, and support Indigenous involvement in the biomass industry.
News in lumber
Canadian Sawmill Production Up Month-Over-Month but Down Year-Over-Year in January 2022
On Friday (4-1-22), Statistics Canada (StatsCan) reported lumber sawmill production for January 2022. Sawmills produced 4,346.3 thousand cubic meters of lumber in January 2022. That is 11.3% above December 2021 production levels but down by 9.4% year-over-year (January 2021 – January 2022).
Canfor Addresses Local Residents Concerns Regarding Outbound Log Movement from Houston, B.C. Sawmill
Canfor Corporation has addressed Houston, B.C. residents’ concerns over timber being moved from the Canfor Houston sawmill to the Canfor Plateau sawmill located in Vanderhoof. According to Canfor, the reason for the movement of logs from one facility to another is due to a shortage of logs at the Plateau mill.
Canfor to Reduce Production Schedules at Western Canadian Sawmills for a Minimum of Four Weeks
Canfor Corporation announced on Wednesday afternoon (3-30-22) that effective Monday, April 4, 2022, it will be implementing reduced operating schedules at its Western Canadian sawmills. This is due the cumulative effects of the unprecedent global supply chain crisis that has been ongoing for the past several months, Canfor says.
Western Forest Products Announces Another Temporary Curtailment at Their Chemainus Sawmill
Western Forest Products (WFP) announced on Monday (3-21-22) that starting this week, their Chemainus Sawmill is once again undergoing a production curtailment due to a lack of logs. The last curtailment started on February 2nd and lasted nearly three weeks.
Sustainable Green Team Ltd. Purchasing Dormant 45-Acre Interfor Sawmill Site in Beaver, Washington
Sustainable Green Team Ltd., a Florida-based, publicly traded company, announced on Thursday (3-17-22) that it is purchasing the dormant 45-acre Interfor USA Inc. sawmill site in Beaver, Washington. The purchase includes leasing land Interfor now rents from the City of Fork, Oregon for $1 million.
U.S. Dept. of Commerce Announced on March 9, 2022, that it has initiated the Fourth Administrative Review of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty on Certain Softwood Lumber Products from Canada
The U.S. Department of Commerce has announced that it has initiated the Fourth Administrative Review (AR4) of the antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) investigations of imports of certain softwood lumber products from Canada.
Britton Lumber Company’s Eastern White Pine Mill in Bath, New Hampshire to be Expanded and Upgraded
Britton Lumber Company has announced their intention to expand their Eastern White Pine sawmill facility located in Bath, New Hampshire in August 2022. The mill currently is approximately a 30,000 square foot facility producing approximately 9 million board feet annually.
Citing Transportation Challenges, West Fraser Moves to Three-Day Week at B.C. Sawmills
In an email sent to Black Press Media, the owner of British Columbia’s Nelson Star newspaper, West Fraser Corporation confirmed that it is temporarily rolling back its operating schedules at their lumber mills across British Columbia, from 5-days a week to 3-days a week, due to ongoing transportation challenges.
Potential Impacts of Russia-Ukraine Conflict on Softwood Log and Lumber Markets
Sanctions on Russia will severely limit its ability to participate in international trade, but the impacts to its softwood log and lumber trade are likely to be less affected than other industries.