Apr 30, 2012. /Lesprom Network/. West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. reported a loss of $17 million or $0.39 per share on sales of $681 million in the 1Q 2012. In the quarter lumber operations generated an operating loss of $29 million and EBITDA of negative $6 million. The improvement over the prior quarter was smaller than anticipated due to continued weakness in offshore prices for low-grade SPF lumber. The panel segment, which includes plywood, LVL and MDF, generated $1 million of operating earnings and EBITDA of $5 million in the 1Q, a marginal increase over the prior quarter. Pulp and paper operations generated operating earnings in the quarter of $17 million and EBITDA of $30 million. The improvement over the prior quarter occurred despite the decline in pulp prices as the previous quarter's results were negatively affected by the Hinton Pulp maintenance shutdown. West Fraser is an integrated wood products company producing lumber, wood chips, LVL, MDF, plywood, pulp and newsprint. The Company has operations in western Canada and the southern United States.