The top global lumber companies showed further gains in production in 2017 as compared to 2016 output. Three companies recorded output declines despite robust U.S. – as well as export – market demand (this was due mainly to timber supply issues in the B.C. Interior, the U.S. West and Chile). The largest North American firms increased their output, mainly because of mill capex programs or shifting at existing operations.
There was only one major sawmill company acquisition in 2017: West Fraser’s purchase of Gilman. The average rise in production was only 2.3% for the 13 companies on the list — a slower pace than in the last three years. The list is based on companies with reported softwood lumber production exceeding one billion board feet (bf) on a nominal basis (or, for mills outside North America, more than ~2.3 million m3).