June 26 (Reuters) - Forestry company Canfor ( CFPZF )

said on Thursday it will permanently close its Estill and

Darlington sawmills in South Carolina by August 2025, cutting

about 290 jobs.

The closures will also reduce its U.S. lumber production by

350 million board feet annually.

Canfor ( CFPZF ), one of Canada's forest product companies, has faced

pressure from soft lumber prices, weaker U.S. housing starts and

inflation-driven operating costs.

The company said the closures follow "an extended period of

persistently weak market conditions and sustained financial

losses, which have made continued operations at these facilities

no longer viable."