Canfor closing Northwood Pulp Mill

The move will affect about 300 workers, the company reports

Canfor is closing its Northwood pulp mill. The company stated in a media release on Tuesday, July 14 that the closure will result in an annual reduction of about 300,000 tonnes of northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK) from the facility. The company stated that approximately 300 employees in Prince George will be affected.

"We recognize this is incredibly difficult news that will have a significant impact on our employees, their families, the businesses that support our operation, and the communities where we operate," said Susan Yurkovich, president and CEO of Canfor, in the media release. In the release, Canfor cited ongoing challenges in the pulp and paper sector, including a structural shift in global pulp markets. Substantial new production capacity has come online globally, creating an oversupply and putting downward pressure on prices, the press release states.

This, combined with persistent challenges accessing fibre, has resulted in a prolonged period of unsustainable financial losses, the company states. Canfor also reported that it sees no foreseeable improvement in the outlook for the mill. "This decision is in no way a reflection of the dedication or hard work of our employees," Yurkovich said.

"The team at Northwood has worked tirelessly to improve performance, navigating challenging conditions to support their operation, and we are grateful for their efforts. In the weeks ahead, we are committed to supporting our employees through this transition, including providing severance and exploring opportunities to redeploy impacted employees to our other operating locations where possible." The Northwood facility is undergoing a wind-down process and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026.