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Western Forest Products reports a dip for Q3 2018

November 8, 2018 – Western Forest Products has reported its third-quarter results, with an adjusted EBITDA of $32.3 million, compared to adjusted EBITDA of $32.6 million in the third quarter of 2017, and $50.2 million reported in the second quarter of 2018.

Operating income prior to restructuring and other income was $23.4 million in the third quarter of 2018, compared to $25.1 million in third quarter of 2017, and $39.7 million reported in the second quarter of 2018. Higher realized average lumber pricing and lower manufacturing costs in the third quarter of 2018 offset the impacts of $11.5 million of US export lumber duty expense, higher stumpage costs, declining commodity markets and fire-related operating curtailments.

Lumber revenue was $238.2 million, an increase from $212.5 million in the third quarter of 2017, as continued strong global demand for specialty lumber delivered a 16 per cent increase in average price realizations, despite a weakening sales mix. Total lumber sales volumes decreased by four per cent. Western red cedar shipments decreased nine per cent as the market availability of cedar logs for purchase was significantly reduced due to the severe coastal fire conditions. A lack of Douglas fir log availability was the primary contributor in a 21 per cent reduction in Japan lumber shipments. Commodity lumber volumes increased to 50 per cent of the company’s lumber shipments from 47 per cent in the same period last year.

Third-quarter log revenue was $33.6 million in 2018, a decrease of $21.9 million from the same period last year. Improved log market pricing was more than offset by a weaker domestic log sales mix. Log shipments decreased by 17 per cent as compared to the third quarter of 2017 as we suspended our export log sales program to direct additional logs to our mills. Our export log shipments in the period originated from a short-term First Nation timber purchase agreement managed by Western.

Byproducts revenue increased to $20.7 million in the third quarter of 2018, from $17.2 million in the same period in 2017. Higher chip pricing was driven by improved pulp markets and a weaker CAD over the same period last year.

Read the full report here.