Kevin Mason

The announcement by West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. that it had lost US$204 million in its latest financial quarter is a sign of how much damage the storm of U.S. tariffs, punitive duties and a weak lumber market are doing to the industry. West Fraser CEO Sean McLaren cited “supply and demand imbalances” and the “challenging backdrop” of tariffs and duties, with the promise that his company will take “appropriate action that will ensure our operations remain flexible and sized to meet the needs of our customers while also controlling costs.” …the Sinclar Group Forest Products Ltd. announced that it will cut production at its [northern BC mills] by 40 per cent effective Oct. 27. …To industry analyst Kevin Mason, news of Sinclar’s reductions comes as no surprise at a time when the bigger, publicly traded forestry companies start on what he expects to be a parade of reporting red ink.