Columbia Forest Products (CFP) plans to cease all hardwood plywood production activities and permanently close its Trumann, Arkansas facility. CFP anticipates that the permanent closure of the mill will take place sometime this fall, as the company says in the press release received by Lesprom Network.
Remaining orders for panel products manufactured at this facility are moving to other production sites within Columbia’s existing North American network. The company had been operating the Trumann facility since 1986.
“We have fought a long and challenging battle against unfair and imbalanced Chinese trade practices. First, with hardwood plywood. More recently, imported Chinese cabinets,” said Greg Pray, President and CEO of Columbia Forest Products.
“The combined and sustained impact of these and other factors have eroded our market opportunities to the point where we just couldn’t operate the facility at a loss, waiting for the market to come back.”
Roughly half of the plant’s approximately 50 employees were released today, and the other half will remain for several months until all orders and machinery can relocate to other CFP plants.
Established in 1957, Columbia Forest Products is North America’s leading manufacturer of decorative hardwood plywood and veneer.
