AF&PA: U.S. Boxboard Output Recorded 5% Decline

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) released its U.S. Boxboard Report for the month of December 2019. According to the report, the total U.S. boxboard production surged 2%, as compared to December 2018.

The containerboard operating rate was 94.4%, up 0.6% from December 2018. The Dec ’19 containerboard production for export registered notable increase by 11% over the prior month. The containerboard mill inventories recorded marginal increase by 3,000 short tons from the previous month. When compared with December 2018, the inventories remained essentially flat.

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The year-to-date containerboard production has declined by 4%, upon comparison with the same twelve months of 2018.

The total boxboard production witnessed year-on-year decline by 5%. The boxboard operating rate dropped 4.4% from December 2018 to 88.8%. Also, recycled board production was down by 3%.

Meantime, AF&PA reported 4% decline in total packaging papers & specialty packaging shipments. The operating rate was down 2.9% to 81.8%. The mill inventories recorded month-on-month jump by 12,000 short tons.

The total printing-writing paper shipments tumbled 3% in December last year. The inventory levels reported 1% decline during the month.