Canfor has announced more curtailments at two of its operations in B.C.

The company has announced an indefinite curtailment at its Mackenzie Sawmill effective immediately, and a shift reduction at the Isle Pierre sawmill, effective September 20.

The company is blaming the high cost of fibre, continued poor lumber markets and challenging operating conditions for the shutdown in Mackenzie while at the Isle Pierre sawmill the company is blaming the insufficient timber supply as a result of the mountain pine beetle epidemic and a decline in the annual allowable cut.

“We deeply regret the impacts that these capacity reductions will have on our Mackenzie and Isle Pierre employees, contractors, their families and the local communities,” said Stephen Mackie, Senior Vice President of Canadian Operations for Canfor in a statement.

“The BC forest industry is continuing to face very significant challenges. None of our temporary or permanent curtailment decisions have been made lightly, nor are they a reflection on the hard work and dedication of our employees.”

These curtailments will reduce Canfor’s annual production output by approximately 400 million board feet, which is in addition to previously announced reductions.