Timber shortage causes Canfor sawmill closure, suspend large investment in another mill

A persistent shortage of economically available timber and challenging operating conditions in northern British Columbia, has led Canfor Corporation to permanently close its Polar sawmill in Bear Lake, British Columbia, and suspend its planned $200 million reinvestment in Houston, B.C., mill.  This follows the May 9 announcement by Canfor Corp.'s subsidiary company, Canfor Pulp, that one line of production will be indefinitely curtailed at the Northwood Pulp Mill. The Polar sawmill, with a production capacity of about 300 million board feet annually, has been curtailed since January 2024. The permanent closure will impact approximately 180 employees ...