Canada's Canfor Invests US$96 Million to Expand U.S. Lumber Processing Plant

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On October 27, Canadian lumber manufacturer Canfor's subsidiary Canfor Southern Pine announced plans to expand the Iron Mountain sawmill and upgrade logistics facilities in El Dorado, Arkansas, USA, with a total project investment of approximately US$96 million. The investment covers the sawmill production line, log yard, and lumber transport facilities. Upon completion of the upgrades, the plant's annual net production is expected to more than double to approximately 220 million board feet, and about 75 new manufacturing and logistics jobs will be added.

The plant upgrade is divided into two phases. The first phase mainly involved upgrading planing equipment and was completed in the second quarter of 2025. The second phase focuses on upgrading and expanding the sawmill production facilities and log yard, and is scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of 2026. The announced US$96 million represents the overall phased investment scale, covering previously implemented equipment upgrades and supporting logistics facility construction.

The supporting lumber transfer facility was completed earlier in 2026 and serves the Iron Mountain plant and the nearby Urbana sawmill. The facility supports the transfer of lumber between highway trucks and railcars, integrating lumber transport for both plants into a shared road-rail intermodal system.

The Iron Mountain plant primarily produces Southern Yellow Pine dimension lumber. Canfor acquired the plant in August 2024 through the purchase of Arkansas Resolute El Dorado. Under the current expansion plan, the plant is expected to directly employ approximately 150 full-time workers upon completion, and together with the nearby Urbana sawmill and the El Dorado laminated timber processing plant, will form Canfor's regional lumber manufacturing network in Arkansas.