South Carolina forestry sector reels after 10 mill closures; task force pushes bioeconomy, recruiter and bulk‑terminal study

Cam Crawford, president of the Forestry Association of South Carolina, told the Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee that the state’s forest industry has lost substantial market capacity since early 2023 and that a multi‑pronged recovery effort is under way.

"On March first of 20 23, the forest industry had a $23,000,000,000 annual economic impact in South Carolina," Crawford said. He told lawmakers the industry and the South Carolina Forestry Commission formed a forest recovery task force after a string of mill closures and cutbacks beginning in 2023.

The nut graf: Task‑force leaders and the state forester said about 10 mills have announced closures or cutbacks since March 2023, a loss they estimate at roughly 8,200,000 tons of wood market demand — about 25% of the state’s recent peak — and that the loss has broad economic and conservation implications for privately owned forestland.

Scott Phillips, state forester and director of the South Carolina Forestry Commission, told the committee the closures and curtailments have real effects on employment, timber prices and landowner behavior. "That represents all 10 together, 8,200,000 tons of wood," Phillips said, describing the reduction as…