Corporation closing Summerville lumber mill after continual losses

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCBD) — The company that runs the Summerville lumber mill announced it is shutting down the branch after reporting a net loss of nearly $76 million companywide in its second-quarter report.

Interfor Corporation says the closure should be completed by the end of the third quarter, which is the end of September, as Southern Yellow Pine log deliveries have already started to decrease.

The company is also closing a mill in Meldrim, Georgia, due to ‘persistently weak lumber market conditions. ‘About 180 employees are expected to be impacted across both facilities, 80 of whom are from the Summerville facility at 200 N Maple Street.

Interfor did say that jobs would be offered for some employees affected “where possible.”

News 2 reached out to an Interfor representative to ask what the conditions for possible were. The representative said they were unable to clarify the conditions and what would be done to help those not eligible.

Interfor announced at the end of April that it was curtailing lumber production at all its North American sites and closing a location in Oregon.

In its Q2 report, the company continued to report net losses as the lumber market grew weaker for several reasons.

The future of the Summerville property after the closure remains unclear.

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