Quebec sawmills losing big as lumber demand drops

Sawmills in Quebec have not turned a profit for more than a year due to the drop in demand for lumber, according to industry experts. After hitting record pieces during the pandemic ​​of $1,500 US per thousand board feet in 2021, the price of lumber plunged in 2022 and now hovers around $575 for the same amount. The situation pushed some sawmills in the province to temporarily slow down production in 2023 to limit deficits. One sawmill in the Quebec region of Lanaudière, the Scierie Saint-Michel, is back to operating at full capacity — but ...