WestRock sells South Carolina sawmill to Interfor for $59 million in cash

British Columbia-based Interfor, one of North America’s largest lumber producers, has bought WestRock’s South Carolina sawmill for $59 million in cash.

The sawmill is located 65 miles southwest of Interfor’s existing Georgetown, S.C. mill and 115 miles northeast of its Meldrim, Georgia mill. Interfor says this strategic positioning will allow for log sort optimization and procurement synergies across these three mills.

As a result of this transaction, Interfor’s total annual lumber production capacity will increase to 3.2 billion board feet, of which 1.7 billion board feet or 55% of the pro forma capacity will be located in the U.S. south. WestRock says the sale will help reduce its debt.

The transaction is subject to customary conditions and is expected to close in 1Q 2021.