A temporary shutdown at one of Maine’s last remaining large paper mills will result in the layoffs of roughly 150 workers, affecting about one-third of the mill workforce.

Operations at Woodland Pulp and St. Croix Chipping Mills in Baileyville will stop on Nov. 20, and will reopen on Dec. 17. During the shutdown, the mill will start to transition to producing softwood instead of hardwood.

The shutdown is largely related to the global market for pulp softening, meaning there is less demand for pulp than in previous years.

Situated on the St. Croix River, Woodland Pulp produces pulp that is then sold to paper companies around the world. As one of Maine’s most storied industries, pulp and paper mills account for about 0.43% of all Maine jobs, compared with 0.06% at the national level.

However, the economic output of the industry is rapidly declining. According to the Maine Monitor, which broke the story, the output of Maine’s pulp and paper industry fell by $390 million between 2010 and 2022.

Woodland Pulp is just one of several mills in the northeast United States and Quebec that have recently paused or decreased wood deliveries, the Maine Monitor reported.

The decrease in wood deliveries and production has led to the layoffs of hundreds of workers, including those at Woodland Pulp.

Over the next month, laid-off workers at Woodland Pulp will keep their benefits until the mill reopens, and are able to apply for unemployment. The Maine Department of Labor on Friday reported that it would provide direct unemployment insurance support to affected employees.