Sinclar Group Announces Production Reductions at 3 Sawmills Due to Fiber Supply and Transportation Issues

On Thursday (4-14-22), Sinclar Group Forest Products Ltd. announced that it will temporarily reduce manufacturing output from 5-days down to 4-days per week at its British Columbia sawmill operations beginning on Monday, April 25, 2022.

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. The company intends to monitor the situation and make adjustments as needed. The Premium Pellet and Winton Homes operations will continue to run, as will the Prince George Downtown Renewable Energy System.

In a news release, Sinclar President Greg Steward said, “We’ve held off making this decision as long as possible. But like most companies in B.C., we’re facing increasing uncertainty of fiber supply, while at the same time experiencing challenges moving lumber due to supply chain bottlenecks.”

“As a third-generation, family-run company, operating in the Central Interior, the decision we’ve had to make today was incredibly hard,” Steward added. “Everyone who works for our company lives and works in these communities, and we are determined to get through this difficult period and emerge stronger and more resilient.”

Sinclar Group Forest Products operates three primary mills (sawmills and planer mills) and two secondary (value-added) mills in the Central Interior of British Columbia, Canada. Sinclar operations include Apollo Forest Products (Fort St. James), Nechako Lumber Co. (Vanderhoof), Lakeland Mills (Prince George), Winton Homes & Cottages (Prince George), and Premium Pellet (Vanderhoof).