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The Province's forest products sector consists of
the newsprint industry, the lumber industry, and a small number of value-added
industries. These industries utilize approximately 2.5 million m3 of
timber, and provide more than 3500 person years of direct employment resulting
in 10,000 or more direct and indirect part-time and full-time jobs. These
industries also produce newsprint and solid wood products valued at $600-$700
million.
Newsprint
The newsprint industry is
comprised of three mills; two owned by Abitibi-Consolidated at Grand Falls and
Stephenville and one owned by Kruger at Corner Brook. The output of these mills
varies slightly around 740,000 tonnes from year to year. The products from these
mills are exported to over 40 countries worldwide.
Lumber
The lumber industry consists of more than 800
commercially licenced sawmills ranging in output size from a few thousand board
feet per year to the largest one at approximately 50 million board feet. The
majority of the Province's lumber production which is currently approaching 115
million board feet is produced by a group of 11 larger mills that also recover
pulp chips from their sawing residues. Some of these have direct or associated
kiln capacity. More than half of the lumber produced in the Province is sold to
markets in mainland Canada and in the United States while a small amount finds
its way to European markets.
Value-added
The value-added industries consist of
approximately 30 small producers some directly linked to sawmills while others
run independent operations. Some work exclusively with local species while
others combine local and imported species. The range of products include: log
homes, cabinet door blanks, mouldings, stair treads, kitchen cabinets,
furniture, garden furniture/ornaments, pallets and pressure treated timber. The
products not only go to local markets but also to the United States, Chile,
Germany, the United Kingdom and other nations.
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