West Fraser will Permanently Close Perry, Fla., Sawmill

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster):  West Fraser announced the permanent closure of its sawmill in Perry, Fla.

Operations at the sawmill were indefinitely curtailed in January 2023. The mill had an annual production capacity of 100 million board feet of pine lumber.

ABC affiliate WTXL reported receiving the following statement emailed by Joyce Wagenaar, director of communications for West Fraser.

“Following the decision in January 2023 to indefinitely curtail the Perry Sawmill in Florida, which saw a small crew kept onsite to maintain the mill, West Fraser is now moving to permanently close the mill by the end of March. The few remaining workers will complete their last shifts this week. The equipment will then be assessed for use elsewhere. High fiber costs at Perry and a low-price commodity environment have impaired its ability to profitably operate. Prior to the indefinite curtailment announcement in January 2023, the Perry Sawmill employed approximately 126 people.”

West Fraser acquired the Perry sawmill from Gilman Building Products in 2017.

In January, West Fraser announced it would permanently close sawmills in Fraser Lake British Columbia, and Maxville, Fla.., as well as indefinitely suspend operations at its mill in Huttig, Ark.

West Fraser is a diversified wood products company with approximately 60 facilities in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe. 

Courtesy: www.woodworkingnetwork.com