Particle.news
Download on the App Store
7 ARTICLES
·
4mo ago

West Fraser to Permanently Close Mills in B.C. and Georgia as It Scales Back Lumber Capacity

The company cites scarce economic timber in B.C. alongside escalating U.S. duties and softer demand as rendering the sites no longer viable.

Logs are piled up at West Fraser Timber in Quesnel, B.C., Tuesday, April 21, 2009. West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. has signed a deal to sell two pulp mills in Western Canada to Atlas Holdings for US$120 million. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
West Fraser Timber will close its mill in 100 Mile House at the end of 2025, citing economic challenges including the softwood tariffs.
An employee monitors production at a West Fraser Timber Co. sawmill. The company has announced closure of its mill in 100 Mile House.
Image

Overview

  • West Fraser will permanently shut its 100 Mile House, B.C., and Augusta, Ga., lumber mills by the end of 2025 after an orderly wind-down.
  • About 165 jobs will be lost at 100 Mile House and roughly 130 at Augusta, with the closures trimming a combined 300 million board feet of capacity.
  • The company attributes the decision to constrained timber supply, weak softwood lumber demand, higher U.S. duties and additional tariffs, and—at Augusta—the loss of viable residual outlets.
  • Indefinite 2024 curtailments at Huttig, Arkansas, and Lake Butler, Florida, are now permanent with plans to dismantle and sell those sites, while a replacement mill in Henderson, Texas, has begun start-up.
  • West Fraser expects restructuring and impairment charges in the fourth quarter of 2025; B.C. officials expressed concern and local leaders warned of significant indirect job and tax-base impacts.