Prince George’s Canfor Northwood Pulp Mill will be one of many affected by the reduced Canadian lumber production announced by the company today (Thursday).
The planned extended spring maintenance shut at Northwood has been postponed until later this year, and the mill will now be curtailed for the three weeks that the turnaround was scheduled to occur.
This will result in a reduction of approximately 35,000 tons of Northern Bleached Softwood Kraft pulp production, among the Canada-wide loss of 70 million board feet.
Canfor cited the current pandemic as the primary cause for the near-40% decrease seen across the country, explaining in an official statement that:
“The COVID-19 outbreak has negatively impacted global demand for forest products and disrupted supply chain networks.”
The planned reductions will be seen across several other British Columbia sawmills, such as West Fraser, through temportant curtailments and reduced operating hours.
Furthermore, the company warned that further changes may occur as the situation continues to evolve.
In their statement, the organization explained they have implemented measures to reduce the transmission of the virus, including encouraging employees to work remotely, and increasing workplace cleaning.
Canfor is offering more information on its website.