Tuesday, December 23, 2025
GreenFirst Forest Products Inc. has announced changes to its operating schedule due to ongoing challenges in the softwood lumber market. In response to these conditions, the company will implement a three-week shutdown at three of its four sawmills — Hearst, Kapuskasing, and Cochrane — from December 22, 2025, to January 9, 2026.
“Softwood lumber markets remain under significant pressure, and extending our holiday curtailment is a prudent step to better align production with current demand,” said Joël Fournier, chief executive officer of GreenFirst.
Market conditions remain influenced by weak North American demand and the ongoing impact of combined duties and tariffs of around 45% on Canadian softwood lumber. These challenges have resulted in curtailments across the industry as producers strive to align supply with demand.
GreenFirst will continue to closely monitor market dynamics and will adjust production plans as necessary to support the long-term sustainability of its operations and the communities in which it operates. GreenFirst Forest Products’ business is rooted in the forest, so they have a deep connection to the publicly owned Canadian forestlands where they have forest management operations. For them, well-managed forests truly make sense for their business, their communities and the environment.
“We take care of the forests we depend on, for the benefit of all.”
Forests are essential to humanity for the range of benefits, products and services they provide – clean water, wildlife habitat, wilderness, carbon reservoirs, recreational opportunities, timber and non-timber products, and green energy.
For GreenFirst, trees provide the raw ingredients, such as fiber, from which the company’s products are derived. Forests are more than trees and well-managed forests can provide a range of products and integral ecosystem services to meet society’s needs.
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Tags: forest products, forestry, GreenFirst, Lumber, North America, sawmills, softwood, sustainability, timberindustry, wood production
