Canfor Southern Pine is investing approximately US$96 million in its Iron Mountain sawmill in El Dorado, Arkansas, with annual net production expected to more than double to about 220 million board feet.<\/p>\n
The programme covers manufacturing equipment, log handling and shipping infrastructure. Canfor expects approximately 75 additional jobs across the mill and logistics operations, with direct employment at Iron Mountain reaching about 150 after completion.<\/p>\n
The work is being carried out in stages. An upgrade to the planer was completed in the second quarter of 2025. The second phase, covering the sawmill and log yard, is scheduled to finish in the fourth quarter of 2026.<\/p>\n
Shared shipping infrastructure<\/strong><\/p>\n A transload facility built at Iron Mountain earlier this year serves both the mill and Canfor\u2019s nearby Urbana operation. Lumber can be transferred between trucks and rail cars, giving the two facilities more options for reaching customers across North America.<\/p>\n Iron Mountain produces Southern Yellow Pine dimensional lumber. Together with Urbana and the El Dorado Laminating Plant, it forms part of Canfor\u2019s manufacturing network in Union County.<\/p>\n Canfor Southern Pine president Lee Goodloe said the investment would improve efficiency and coordination between these operations.<\/p>\n For lumber buyers, the project combines additional production with changes to how it reaches the market. Sharing a rail-loading facility allows Canfor to organise shipments from two sawmills through one location, while the manufacturing upgrades are intended to increase the volume available for sale.<\/p>\n The log-yard expansion is another part of that increase. Higher sawmill output requires sufficient timber to move through the site, making receiving, storage and handling capacity part of the investment alongside the processing equipment.<\/p>\n More output from an existing site<\/strong><\/p>\n The 220-million-board-foot figure is the expected annual net production of the upgraded Iron Mountain operation, rather than the amount being added. Canfor has not provided a detailed production ramp-up schedule in the announcement.<\/p>\n That leaves the pace of commissioning as the next step between completing construction and reaching the stated output. For customers, the timing of additional lumber deliveries will depend on how quickly the upgraded mill reaches normal operating levels.<\/p>\n The investment also gives Iron Mountain a larger role within Canfor\u2019s Arkansas operations. The company is expanding production at the site while using its shipping facilities to support neighbouring Urbana\u2014a combination intended to make better use of the regional network.<\/p>\n Selected transactions, investments and closures, 2022\u20132026<\/p>\n Canfor Southern Pine is investing approximately US$96 million in its Iron Mountain sawmill in El Dorado, Arkansas, with annual net production expected to more than double to about 220 million board feet.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":100438,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5204],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-100437","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nCanfor\u2019s acquisitions and capacity changes<\/h3>\n
\n\n
\n \nDate<\/th>\n Operation<\/th>\n Transaction or decision<\/th>\n Announced capacity or production effect<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n \n Mar 2022<\/td>\n Millar Western, Alberta<\/td>\n Completed acquisition of solid wood operations; announced price C$420m, including working capital.<\/td>\n 630m board feet\/year of capacity acquired.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 2022\u20132024<\/td>\n Urbana, Arkansas<\/td>\n US$130m modernisation announced in 2022; completed in late 2024.<\/td>\n Annual production increased by approximately 115m board feet.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Apr 2024<\/td>\n Jackson, Fulton and Axis, Alabama<\/td>\n Jackson closure and second shift at Fulton announced alongside the new Axis mill.<\/td>\n Combined regional capacity increase of 100m board feet\/year expected.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n May 2024<\/td>\n Polar and Houston, British Columbia<\/td>\n Permanent closure of Polar announced; planned Houston reinvestment suspended.<\/td>\n 300m board feet\/year removed at Polar.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Aug 2024<\/td>\n El Dorado, Arkansas \u2014 renamed Iron Mountain<\/td>\n Acquisition from Resolute completed; announced price approximately US$73m, including working capital.<\/td>\n Existing mill acquired; subsequent expansion covered by the October 2026 investment.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Sep 2024<\/td>\n Plateau and Fort St. John, British Columbia<\/td>\n Permanent closures announced.<\/td>\n 670m board feet\/year removed.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Sep 2024<\/td>\n Darlington, Estill and Moultrie, US South<\/td>\n Shift curtailment and reduced operating hours.<\/td>\n Annualised production reduction of approximately 215m board feet.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Jun 2025<\/span><\/td>\n Darlington and Estill, South Carolina<\/span><\/td>\n Permanent closures announced, effective August 2025.<\/span><\/td>\n 350m board feet\/year removed.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Sep 2025<\/td>\n AB Karl Hedin S\u00e5gverk, Sweden<\/td>\n Vida completed acquisition of three sawmills.<\/td>\n 230m board feet\/year of capacity acquired.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n May 2026<\/td>\n Urshult and Orrefors, Sweden<\/td>\n Vida announced permanent closures, citing fibre availability.<\/td>\n Capacity figure not included in the cited announcement summary.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Jul 2026<\/td>\n PinkWood, Alberta<\/td>\n I-joist acquisition completed; agreed price C$68m, including working capital.<\/td>\n 46m linear feet\/year of I-joist capacity acquired.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Jul 2026<\/td>\n Fox Creek, Alberta<\/td>\n Permanent closure announced.<\/td>\n 120m board feet\/year removed.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"