Feb 12, 2010. /Lesprom Network/. West Fraser Timber has posted a net loss of $20 million in its 4Q on sales of $647 million, company said in a statement received by Lesprom Network. 2010 is expected to be another challenging year for West Fraser's lumber and panel operations as U.S. housing starts, although expected to improve from the depressed levels of 2009, will likely remain at relatively low levels. Pulp demand and pricing has been reasonably strong with the return of general economic growth in major consuming regions. Hank Ketcham, the company's Chairman, CEO and President, said, "Although 2009 was the company's worst year from the perspective of financial results, with many of our employees having to deal with production curtailments, I believe that we met the challenge of achieving new levels of cost-savings and efficiency. As a result, we are extremely well positioned in terms of our current operating rates to benefit from improved demand and stronger product prices in the future. We have a focused employee group and efficient facilities which should give us a significant advantage going forward." 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.