Canfor to Shut Northwood Pulp Mill, 300 Jobs at Risk

Rubber and Wood  |  2026-07-15 07:00:59   |   By

Canfor President Susan Yurkovich said the company has been facing unsustainable losses for an extended period due to weak global market conditions and a lack of adequate fibre supplies to support production.

Summary
  • Canfor will permanently shut the Northwood Pulp Mill in Prince George, with approximately 300 jobs expected to be lost.
  • The closure is driven by prolonged financial losses, caused by global pulp oversupply, weak prices, and insufficient fibre supply.
  • Employees will receive severance support, while the British Columbia government has pledged assistance to help affected workers secure new employment.

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Canfor Corporation has announced the permanent closure of its Northwood Pulp Mill in Prince George. The move is feared to result in the loss of approximately 300 jobs. The closure is primarily attributed to prolonged financial challenges in the pulp business.

Canfor President Susan Yurkovich said the company has been facing unsustainable losses for an extended period due to weak global market conditions and a lack of adequate fibre supplies to support production. She noted that expanding pulp production capacity worldwide has created an oversupply, which in turn has put significant pressure on prices.

The prospects for a near-term recovery look weak, making the closure unavoidable, the company noted. The closure follows a series of restructuring measures announced over the past two years.

Yurkovich praised employees for their commitment despite difficult operating conditions. She added that the company will provide severance packages and explore opportunities to relocate affected workers to other Canfor operations where feasible. Meanwhile, British Columbia Forests Minister Ravi Parmar said the provincial government will provide all possible support to help displaced employees find new employment opportunities.

The Northwood facility has an annual production capacity of around 300,000 tonnes of bleached pulp.

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