High OSB prices have prompted speculation that the North America could see another wave of mill construction, according to a report in Random Lengths.
Currently only two new OSB plants are on the way for 2003/4: Tolko Industries is the lead partner behind a new mill in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan and JM Huber is setting up a new plant in Broken Bow, Oklahoma. Both will have annual capacity around the 600 million sq ft mark.
But with OSB prices currently well over the $200 mark, other production projects are predicted to get the greenlight.
New mills at planning or feasibility study stage include a 700 million sq ft (3/8″) a year joint venture between Lousianna Pacific and Slocan to be built in Fort St. John British Columbia and expected to come on stream in 2005.
Ced-Or-Corp is also trying to raise funding for a mill in Bearn, Quebec with projected annual capacity of 210 million sq ft.
At a less advanced stage of development are plans from St Lawrence Forest Products for a plant in Lisbon, New York and from OSB Chateaugay for a new mill in Chateaugay, New York. Projected capacities are 520 million sq ft and 600 million sq ft respectively.
