Western Forest Products Inc. is the latest lumber producer to announce temporary production curtailments to deal with challenging market conditions.
The Vancouver-based company says it will reduce output at three of its sawmills to align volumes with customer demand.
The Duke Point facility will be affected for two weeks and its Saltair sawmill for one week in June.
Operating levels at its Chemainus sawmill will be reduced to 80 hours per week from 120 hours per week.
The curtailment is expected to reduce production by about 15 million board feet.
Western has an annual lumber capacity in excess of 1.1 billion board feet at facilities in British Columbia and Washington State.
West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd., Interfor, Canfor and Tolko have previously announced similar curtailments.
“The challenge of weak markets is compounded by the disproportionate impacts of softwood lumber duties on high-value products, including Western Red Cedar,” said Western president and CEO Don Demens.
