Portland, Ore.-based lumber producer Pope & Talbot will shut down two sawmills in British Columbia starting Aug. 20.

The two-week shutdown will reduce inventories at the “high-quality” softwood lumber mills, located in Grand Forks, B.C., and Castlegar, B.C.

The company said the move was necessary due to the falling price of softwood lumber products brought on by the downturn in the U.S. housing market.

“The poor softwood lumber market has led to a situation where it is not profitable for us to run at normal capacity,” said CEO Harold Stanton. “Moving forward, we will continue to make adjustments as the market dictates.”

Pope & Talbot produces market pulp and softwood lumber at mills in the United States and Canada.