Georgia-Pacific will “cease operations” at its lumber facility in DeQuincy, Louisiana due to market conditions, the company announced over the weekend.
Georgia Pacific released the following statement regarding the news: “We will cease operations at our lumber facility in DeQuincy, Louisiana, in the next 60 days due to overall market conditions. This difficult decision will affect 188 of our hardworking employees. The current pandemic has put a strain on all construction markets, causing a severe change in forecasted future demand for lumber. We appreciate the dedicated service of our DeQuincy employees. The decision to close this facility is not a reflection on their efforts and we will maintain this facility in an ‘idled’ state in hopes the market for lumber increases.”
“When you think about the worldwide pandemic with COVID-19 and the strain that it’s put on the construction market, it’s caused a severe change in future lumber and what that demand is. And although it seems like we have made some progress as a country and world as a whole, lumber is not expected to return to pre-pandemic rates for quite some time,” said Ogletree.
The plant is operating as they fill orders and dispose of inventory. Ogletree says employees may apply for jobs at other Georgia Pacific facilities, if the plant closes permanently. Georgia-Pacific says the facility could reopen if the market for lumber increases.
The DeQuincy Georgia Pacific lumber facility is known for producing dimensional lumber. In addition to lumber, Georgia-Pacific is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of pulp, tissue, and paper products.
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