04:37:31 EDT Wed 24 Apr 2024
Enter Symbol
or Name
USA
CA



West Fraser Timber Co Ltd
Symbol WFT
Shares Issued 66,381,289
Close 2020-04-03 C$ 24.56
Market Cap C$ 1,630,324,458
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West Fraser to see SPF, plywood, NBSK production cuts

2020-04-03 17:43 ET - News Release

Mr. Chris Virostek reports

WEST FRASER PROVIDES UPDATE ON COVID-19 PRODUCTION ADJUSTMENTS

In response to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. is providing an update on production adjustments implemented to address changing operating, supply chain and market conditions. West Fraser will provide a further production outlook update as part of its first quarter earnings release, scheduled for April 28, and does not anticipate providing another update before then.

As a result of the continuing proliferation of the COVID-19 pandemic, the imposition of mandatory and recommended governmental restrictions on movement, travel, work and trade that are impacting operations and employees, the demand for forest products, and the availability of residuals and other inputs and transportation services, the following additional changes to operating schedules at West Fraser's manufacturing operations have been implemented. These operating schedules will be assessed and adjusted as may be required to further respond to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the need to protect the health and safety of employees, and continuing changes in mill operating, supply chain and market conditions.

Lumber

Effective April 6, West Fraser will further reduce its SPF production by 30 million to 40 million board feet of production per week, which represents between 45 per cent and 60 per cent of SPF production. SYP production will continue in line with the reductions previously announced on March 19. West Fraser plans to continue to operate its power generation assets at its Canadian sawmill sites during this period.

Panels

Effective April 6, plywood production at the company's three manufacturing sites will be further adjusted on a continuing basis. It is expected that curtailments of at least five million square feet of plywood production will continue. MDF and LVL production may also be reduced, primarily through the reduction of operating hours.

Pulp

Effective April 20, West Fraser will take approximately four weeks of downtime at its Cariboo pulp and paper joint venture pulp mill, resulting in an approximate reduction in NBSK production of 30,000 tonnes, of which West Fraser's share is 15,000 tonnes. The downtime is necessitated by decreased fibre availability as a result of widespread sawmill curtailments in British Columbia and the other effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mill operations and employees. During this downtime, the cogeneration facility at Cariboo is expected to continue to operate.

About West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.

West Fraser is a diversified wood product company producing lumber, LVL, MDF, plywood, pulp, newsprint, wood chips, other residuals and energy with facilities in Western Canada and the southern United States.

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