West Fraser Timber third-quarter earnings, sales lower compared with last year

West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. says it earned US$159 million in the third quarter, compared with US$216 million a year earlier.

The Vancouver-based company says sales were US$1.7 billion, down from US$2.1 billion during the third quarter last year. 

Earnings per diluted share were US$1.81, down from US$2.50 last year. 

President and CEO Ray Ferris says the third quarter saw a continuation of challenging demand, especially in lumber.