Written by GORDON HOEKSTRA
Citizen staff
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Tuesday, 02 December 2008 |
West Fraser has announced further B.C. sawmill production cutbacks in response to continuing weak markets.
The temporary production reductions will take place primarily during the upcoming holiday season.
No details on which sawmills in north and central B.C. will be impacted was available.West Fraser has extensive operations in northern B.C., including in Houston, Fraser Lake, Chetwynd, Quesnel and Williams Lake.
The company said production will be reduced by about 35 million board feet in B.C., added to 435 million board feet in annual production cuts that have already been taken at its sawmills in B.C. and Alberta.
Weak markets have also resulted in West Fraser cutting production by 25 per cent at its two bleached mechanical pulp mills, one of which is in Quesnel. The company is also taking further cuts at its medium density fibreboard plants, one of which operates in Quesnel.
Other companies have also cut production at sawmills, including Canfor, Sinclar Enterprises, Dunkley Lumber, AbitibiBowater and Tolko. They have been responding to a collapse in the U.S. housing sector where starts have plummeted from a high of more than 2 million in 2005 to a low of less than 800,000 this year.
Canfor Pulp is taking a two-week shutdown at its three pulp mills during the Christmas period. Pulp demand has also fallen off as a result of a global economic slowdown.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 02 December 2008 )
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