2018 International Forest Industries IFI Feb March 2018 Digital | Page 22

LUMBER PROCESSING NEWS Blue Ridge Lumber to invest $2.7 million to expand manufacturing operation in Essex County Blue Ridge Lumber will create seventeen new jobs and invest nearly $2.7 million at the company’s lumber yard in Essex County. The company is adding new dry kiln capacity to increase hardwood exports and has committed to purchase more than $5.2 million of Virginia-grown logs and lumber over the next three years. Blue Ridge Lumber has been selling Appalachian hardwoods since 1981, operating six facilities throughout Virginia and exporting products around the world. “Blue Ridge Lumber’s continued growth and investment in Essex County is great indicator of the strength of Virginia’s forestry industry,” said Governor McAuliffe. “Investments like these create jobs and open new markets for Virginia’s forestland owners and their success reflects the strong relationship growers and producers have with manufacturers and businesses across the Commonwealth. Today’s announcement is a great win for forestry in the Commonwealth as we continue with our ongoing efforts to build a new Virginia economy.” “Through its commitment to sourcing logs and lumber from Virginia, Blue Ridge Lumber is further supporting Virginia’s loggers and forestland owners,” said Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Basil Gooden. “Virginia’s forestry industry contributes a $21 billion annual economic impact, and I am pleased the Commonwealth could partner with Essex County through the AFID Program to support this local business in a flourishing industry.” “The mission of Blue Ridge Lumber is to manufacture and sell quality hardwoods, offering honest value to a global market,” said Blue Sawmills SERRA High production! High accuracy! Made in Germany! call +49 8051 96 40 00 www.serra-sawmill.com 20 International Forest Industries | FEBRUARY / MARCH 2018 Ridge Lumber President Thomas Sheets. “This new expansion enables us to expand upon this mission.” “On behalf of the Essex County Board of Supervisors, we are all excited to see this grant award by the Commonwealth, coupled with the investment of private money by a local company,” said Timothy Wilson, Essex County Administrator. “This expansion of Blue Ridge Lumber will help maintain the viability and add to the value of forestry as a continuing and vibrant segment of our local, regional, and state economy.” “Essex County has a long tradition of supporting agriculture and forestry, which are our largest industries,” said Bill Croxton, Chairman of the Essex County Economic Development Authority. “The expansion of Blue Ridge Lumber into our area, the Basil Gooden, Former Secretary of Agriculture & Forestry, Commonwealth of Virginia investment and the new jobs it brings are very exciting and welcome.” The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services worked with Essex County and Blue Ridge Lumber Co., LLC to secure this project for Virginia. Governor McAuliffe approved a $50,000 grant from the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development (AFID) Fund, which Essex County will match with local funds. Suzano to acquire wood & land in São Paulo, from Duratex Suzano Pulp and Paper announces agreement to acquire wood and land owned by Duratex in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The agreement for the purchase and sale of forestry assets, commitment to purchase and sell rural properties and purchase option involves, initially, the acquisition of 9,500 hectares of rural land and 1.2 million m³ of forests in the central region of São Paulo state. The transaction value is estimated at R$308.1 million ($103 million) During the same negotiations, a purchase option was formalized involving another approximately 20,000 hectares of rural land and 5.6 million m³ of forest assets, in an operation valued at R$749.4 million ($250 million). The purchase option may be exercised exclusively by July 2, 2018. “The acquisition will enable us to shorten the average supply radius of our Limeira Unit in São Paulo, while also potentially enabling us to expand our pulp Walter Schalka, Suzano CEO production in the state,” explained our CEO Walter Schalka. The transaction expands Suzano’s solid forest base in the central region of São Paulo state, which includes 61,000 hectares of surplus land already available for use. The consummation of the transaction is subject to certain conditions typical to transactions of this kind, including approval by Brazil’s antitrust agency CADE.