Conifex Timber Inc. is reporting a net loss of $2.2 million in its third quarter on sales of $38.2 million.

Current quarter net loss improved by $1.4 million over the previous quarter. Net loss during the current quarter improved by $0.7 million over the third quarter of 2010. Overall operating rates based on current total estimated production capacity were approximately 55% during the second and third quarters of 2011 compared to 21% during the third quarter last year.

Conifex reported current quarter lumber shipments of 115 million board feet which represented an increase of 42% over the previous quarter and 260% over the same quarter last year. The increase in shipment volume was due to higher operating rates and the fulfillment of shipment orders from the previous quarter. Revenue from lumber shipments increased by 54% compared to the previous quarter and by 262% over the same quarter last year. Current quarter average WSPF 2×4 #2 & Btr prices increased by approximately 4% compared to the previous quarter and the same quarter last year once the effect of exchange rate fluctuations between the Canadian and U.S. dollar is removed.

Conifex’s geographic sales profile continued to be dominated by export markets. Approximately 72% of total current quarter shipment volumes and 68% of current year-to-date shipment volumes were to offshore markets, primarily China and Japan, compared to 49% of third quarter shipments and 41% of year-to-date shipments last year. The balance of current year-to-date shipments was split equally between the Canadian and U.S. markets.

Lumber production during the third quarter of 2011 totalled 102 million board feet and was flat compared to the previous quarter and an increase of approximately 258% over the third quarter of 2010. Operating results reflect a modest increase in unit log costs during the current quarter and year-to-date periods, modest improvement in unit cash conversion costs during the current quarter and a more significant decrease in current and year-to-date lumber segment selling, general and administration unit costs.

Conifex and its subsidiaries’ primary business currently includes timber harvesting, reforestation, forest management, sawmilling logs into lumber and wood chips, and value added lumber finishing. Conifex’s lumber products are sold in the United States, Chinese, Canadian and Japanese markets. Upon completion of its bioenergy facility at Mackenzie, British Columbia, Conifex’s business segments will be expanded to include bioenergy.

Conifex’s sawmill complex situated in Fort St. James, British Columbia was purchased in August 2008 and commenced operations on a one-shift basis in March 2009. Conifex’s two-mill complex situated in Mackenzie, British Columbia was purchased in June 2010. One mill at Mackenzie started up on a one-shift basis in November 2010. Conifex added a second shift at Fort St. James and Mackenzie in late March 2011 and is expected to be operating at approximately 70% of capacity by the end of the third quarter of 2011. On a combined basis, Conifex now owns sawmills having an annual lumber production capacity of approximately 745 million board feet on a two-shift basis. The sawmill complexes are supported by renewable forestry licences with an allowable annual cut of approximately 1.6 million cubic metres.

Source: Conifex (read full release)