Sept 19 (Reuters) - Canadian producer of forestry

products West Fraser announced on Thursday that it

would indefinitely curtail its sawmill in Lake Butler, Florida,

by the end of this month.

The curtailment would impact nearly 130 employees, and the

company expects to mitigate this by providing work opportunities

at other company operations.

High fiber costs and soft lumber markets led to the

decision, the company said, where the current low-price

environment has impaired the ability to operate the mill

profitably.

This also reduces West Fraser's U.S. lumber capacity by

approximately 110 million board feet, and the company said it

would take an impairment charge in the third quarter of 2024.

The Vancouver, Canada-based company missed profit estimates

in the second quarter of the year.

Morningstar analyst Spencer Liberman in July had said that

the stagnant housing markets as well as tepid repair and remodel

demand were weighing on lumber demand end markets.