Apr 24, 2007. /Lesprom Network/. West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. reported on April 23 a first quarter loss of $5 million or $0.12 per share on sales of $759 million compared to earnings of $296 million or $6.87 per share (earnings of $7 million or $0.17 per share prior to softwood lumber duty refunds) on sales of $727 million in the fourth quarter of 2006 and earnings of $6 million or $0.14 per share on sales of $902 million in the first quarter of last year. EBITDA was $41 million or 5% of sales for the quarter compared to EBITDA of $115 million or 13% of sales for the comparable period last year. For the fourth quarter of 2006, EBITDA, excluding the duty refund, would have been $40 million or 6% of sales. West Fraser is an integrated forest products company producing lumber, LVL, MDF, plywood, pulp, linerboard, kraft paper and newsprint. The company has approximately 9 100 employees and operations in British Columbia, Alberta and the southern United States.