Groundbreaking at Canfor’s DeRidder Plant

Groundbreaking Ceremony Held for CANFOR’S DeRidder Plant

Ground was officially broken April 21 on Canfor Southern Pine’s DeRidder Plant in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana. More than 60 community leaders gathered for a shovel ceremony on more than 100 acres where the new groundup construction lumber mill is being built.

The $160 million state-of-the-art sawmill complex is being constructed with modern technology which will make the journey from log to lumber a high-tech process. From construction to operations, the plant is anticipated to create about 516 direct and indirect jobs.

DeRidder Mayor Misty Clanton spoke of Canfor’s contribution to community. “When I look ahead to the future, it’s with much excitement and with lots of hope for the possibilities this plant will bring, not only economically, but also to have another valuable community partner in our corner to help move us forward. This is progress and this is a good day.”

R.B. Smith, vice president of workforce and business development at the SWLA Economic Development Alliance, has worked with Canfor and Beauregard Parish officials since the project’s earliest days. He said, “This is truly a great day in Southwest Louisiana, and it’s been a great partnership with Canfor and every one of their people who are first-class. When this facility is up and operational, over 100 families in this area will be positively impacted working in a renewable, green, sustainable resource.”

The state’s abundant forests stretch across 14 million acres – 51% of its land area – and Louisiana has a long history in wood products manufacturing. An estimated one million tons of sawtimber, or 38,000 truckloads of logs, will be required each year to meet the mill’s annual production capacity of 250 million board feet of lumber.

The strategic location of Canfor’s 16th U.S. operation is key to serving existing growing markets and to allow Canfor to grow its market presence globally. The complex will include a log yard, sawmill, lumber drying kilns, finishing planer, lumber storage and a rail spur. Plant commissioning will be a process, with first log through the sawmill expected late this year and finished product through the planer mill in Q1 2023.

Canfor Southern Pine (CSP) has deep roots and a rich history that includes several legacy companies and partnerships with the leaders in the U.S. lumber industry. Over the last 10 years, Canfor has invested about $1 billion in CSP operations and anticipates significant future growth in the U.S. South. Learn more at www.canfor.com.