Canfor to Build New State-of-the-Art Sawmill in DeRidder, Louisiana

Canfor Corporation announced today (6-8-21) that it will be investing approximately $160 million USD to construct a new, state-of-the-art sawmill near DeRidder, Louisiana. The facility will have an annual production capacity of 250 million board feet on a two-shift basis and will directly employ about 130 people, plus create a significant number of additional indirect jobs. The DeRidder facility will have manufacturing capacity and flexibility to produce a wide variety of high value wood products for our customers. Startup is expected to commence late in Q3 of 2022. Canfor will be receiving significant state and local incentives in support of the project.

In a statement prepared for the announcements release, Don Kayne, President and CEO, Canfor said, “We are excited to grow our operating footprint with the greenfield project in Louisiana, which will increase our production capacity and allow us to meet the growing demands of our customers. We also continue to invest significant capital in our British Columbia and U.S. South facilities to ensure we sustain our top-quartile operations and strategically grow our global operating platform.”

In the announcement Canfor also said that given the decision to build a new facility in Louisiana, Canfor will not be proceeding with the greenfield project in Washington, Georgia that was previously announced on February 22, 2018.