The panels division – including plywood, LVL and MDF – generated EBITDA of C$11m, reflecting higher plywood prices.
West Fraser also flagged up the restricted railcar availability and severe winter conditions as having hampered its transport of products to markets, leading to unusually high levels of finished good inventories at the end of Q1.
"We expect lumber prices to be volatile over the balance of 2014 as the supply chain adjusts to more normal shipping flows and the weather-delayed building season progresses," it said.
"We continue to be confident about the long-term recovery of the US housing market although we do expect that it will be bumpy," West Fraser’s president and ceo Ted Seraphim said.
