Pope & Talbot Announces Temporary Shutdown of Three Lumber Mills


Portland, Oregon, USA, 08 October 2007 --(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Pope & Talbot, Inc (Pink Sheets:PTBT) today announced a two-week shutdown for saw mills in Grand Forks, Castlegar, and Fort St. James, British Columbia. The mills, producers of high-quality softwood lumber products, will be shut-down for two weeks beginning 15 October to reduce finished goods inventories.

Harold Stanton, Pope and Talbot CEO, said the move was necessary due to the falling prices of softwood lumber products and the continued strengthening of the Canadian Dollar. "While unfortunate, the shutdowns are a necessary step to ensure the company's profitability during these difficult times," said Stanton. "Moving forward, we will continue to make adjustments as the market dictates."

Pope & Talbot is a pulp and wood products business. The company is based in Portland, Oregon, and trades on the Pink Sheets under the symbol PTBT. Pope & Talbot was founded in 1849. It produces market pulp and softwood lumber at mills in the United States and Canada. Markets for the company's products include the United States, Europe, Canada, South America, and the Pacific Rim. For more information, visit www.poptal.com.