West Fraser Timber retained its title as North America's largest softwood lumber producer, according to a year-end report from a consulting firm.
During 2011, the company's 27 sawmills - 12 in Canada and 15 in the United States - generated 4.9 billion board feet, International Wood Markets Group said in the report. West Fraser was also the top producer in 2010 at 4.7 billion board feet.
The Vancouver-based company was Canada's largest producer at 3.4 billion board feet while Canfor was second at 3.1 billion board feet from 13 sawmills and Tolko was third at 1.9 billion board feet from 10 sawmills.
Weyerhauser was the biggest producer in the U.S. at 2.8 billion board feet from 15 sawmills. Sierra Pacific was third at 1.8 billion board feet from 14 sawmills and West Fraser was third at 1.5 billion board feet from 15 sawmills.
At 11 billion board feet, five firms accounted for 49 per cent of Canadian lumber output, versus 47 per cent in 2010 and West Fraser made up 15.1 per cent.
Overall, Wood Markets said production in North America grew by 5.2 per cent. Total Canadian production rose 2.5 per cent to 22.5 billion board feet and the U.S. total grew 7.6 per cent to 26.9 billion board feet.
U.S. housing starts were less than stellar at 607,000 units in 2011, Wood Markets president Russ Taylor said, and North American lumber consumption show modest 1.5 per cent growth to 43.2 billion board beet.
"As in 2010, offshore Asian demand, mainly Chinese, was the biggest factor driving the industry growth," Taylor said.
Shipments from Canadian sawmills to China added up to five billion board feet and are now second only to those into the U.S.
