Canfor Corporation announced on Thursday (4-21-22) that it will invest approximately $130 million to “significantly upgrade and expand” its sawmill and planer facility located in Urbana, Arkansas. The upgrades include major improvements to the planer, sawmill, and log yard. They are expected to commence in the third quarter of 2022.
News in lumber
Canfor Holds Groundbreaking Ceremony for Its New Sawmill Facility in Deridder, Louisiana
Canfor held its official groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday for a new sawmill facility in DeRidder, Louisiana. The new facility will be Canfor’s first greenfield project, as well as the company’s first investment in the state. The site is projected to be $160 million state-of-the-art sawmill complex and will be Canfor’s 16th operation in the U.S.
Sinclar Group Announces Production Reductions at 3 Sawmills Due to Fiber Supply and Transportation Issues
Sinclar Group Forest Products Ltd. announced that it will temporarily reduce manufacturing output from 5-days down to 4-days per week at its BC sawmill operations. The production reductions will impact Sinclar’s sawmill operations at Lakeland Mills in Prince George, Nechako Lumber in Vanderhoof, and Apollo Forest Products in Fort St. James.
Canadian Manufacturing Sales Increase for Fifth Consecutive Month in February, With Wood Industry Up 8.5%
Statistics Canada (StatsCan) reported today (4-14-22) that manufacturing sales increased for the fifth consecutive month in February, rising 4.2% to $67.7 billion (CAD) on higher sales in 14 of 21 industries. Sales in constant dollars increased 2.2% in February. Total manufacturing sales rose 19.5% on a year-over-year basis in February.
Interfor Corp. Sells Acorn Specialty Sawmill in B.C. to Affiliate of San Industries Ltd.
Interfor Corporation announced that it has reached an agreement to sell its Acorn specialty sawmill, located in Vancouver, British Columbia, to an affiliate of San Industries Ltd. The mill has a two-shift rated capacity of approximately 140 million board feet per year but has been operating on a one-shift basis for many years.
John A. Biewer Company Ships First Truckload From its New Sawmill in Winona, Mississippi
John A. Biewer Company announced that earlier this month it had shipped the first truckload from the company’s newest sawmill located in Winona, Mississippi. The facility is Biewer’s second facility in the South. When fully operational, it will have an annual production capacity of an estimated 250+ MMBF.
Ontario’s Government Promotes Forest By-Products to Generate Jobs and Clean Energy
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.
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.