Estimating sawmill processing capacity for Tongass timber

In spring and summer of 2008 and 2009, sawmill production capacity and utilization information was collected from major wood manufacturers in southeast Alaska. The estimated mill capacity in southeast Alaska for calendar year 2007 was 292,350 thousand board feet (mbf) (log scale), and for calendar year 2008 was 282,350 mbf (log scale). Mill production in calendar year 2007 was estimated at 31,717 mbf (log scale), and for calendar year 2008 was 23,666 mbf (log scale). Wood products manufacturing employment in southeast Alaska dropped from 133 in 2007 to 94 in 2008 as two large and one small operation became idle.