Pulp and Paper Manufactured by Member Companies Was Worth About $2.2 Billion in 2011

Lumber, panelboard, pulp and paper manufactured by member companies of the Alberta Forest Products Association was worth about $2.2 billion in 2011, a drop of $152 million - or 6.6 per cent - from 2010. In the fourth quarter of 2011, production values declined to $484 million compared with $579 million for the same period of 2010. "While we had hoped for a year-to-year increase, there is reason to believe that 2012 will be a better year than 2011, " said AFPA chief executive Brady Whittaker. "Lumber prices in the last couple of months have been noticeably stronger. While the pulp and paper market has continued to soften, prices remain above historical averages. We are hopeful that a turnaround in the global economy will spur higher pulp and paper prices in the future. " Most forest products firms are AFPA members, and have operations in over 50 communities around the province. Source: edmontonjournal.com