RIDDLE — Roseburg Forest Products laid off approximately 2.5% of its workforce across all North American locations early last month, while 120 positions are slated to be filled at Oregon facilities through 2026.
“As we near the end of 2024, soft demand for wood products and broad-based pricing pressure continue to be a drag on our industry,” said Roseburg Forest Products spokesperson Sarah Smith in an email. “Looking into 2025, we do not expect near-term recovery in demand, and as a result, we are positioning to weather another challenging year.”
Roseburg Forest Products manages 600,000 acres of timberland in Oregon, Virginia and North Carolina, according to the company website. Through the harvest of these timberlands, Roseburg Forest Products offers a variety of wood products including plywood, fiberboard and laminate products.
Founded in 1936 by Kenneth Ford, Roseburg Forest Products has been a staple to the timber industry in Southern Oregon.
Smith said the move to eliminate these positions was a necessary one to cut “unnecessary costs.”
“This move positions us to operate more efficiently, weather the extended downturn, and remain on track to achieve our longer-term strategic objectives,” Smith said.
Previous reporting from The News-Review in 2019 stated the company laid off about 90 employees for similar reasons. The article, dated Aug. 2, cites “unfavorable” plywood market conditions.
Over the last two years, Roseburg Forest Products has made significant investments in its manufacturing capabilities. In 2023, the company announced a $700 million investment into two new production plants located in Dillard.
The first of these two plants, Dillard Components, opened in late summer 2024 with the second plant, Dillard MDF, expected to open in 2026. Between the two, Roseburg Forest Products expects 120 new employees, according to the company website.
The website states, “The two new Dillard plants represent a significant portion of Roseburg’s $700 million investment in its Oregon manufacturing assets. The investment also includes improvements at existing Roseburg plants in Oregon, such as significant upgrades at our plywood plant in Riddle, Ore., including two new lathe lines and a new hardwood plywood line, and a new dryer at our plywood plant in Coquille, Ore.”
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