U.S. Containerboard Output Dipped, Says AF&PA

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The Containerboard Monthly Report released by the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) points to marginal decline in containerboard production in August this year.

The production witnessed a decline of 2.4% during the month. This is when compared with the same month a year before. The year-to-date production was down by 4.9%. The average daily production surged higher by 3.2% when matched with the prior month. The container board operating rate hit 92.8%- the highest level so far this year. Also, the linerboard rate touched 91.6% in August 2019.

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The boxboard production during the month recorded a marginal decline of 15 when compared with August 2018. The boxboard operating rate stood at 94.1%. The year-to-date recycled boxboard production edged lower by 1%.

The shipments of packaging papers fell drastically by 10.1% from August 2018, whereas the year-to-date shipments plunged by 5.3%. The operating rate for the month saw sharp rise from 81.6% in July ’19 to 87.6%. The inventory levels too were up by 5.5% from the prior month. The U.S. packaging exports had slumped 13% during the prior month.

The printing-writing paper shipments recorded substantial decline by 14% compared to August 2018. The inventory levels remained essentially unchanged upon comparison with the prior month. The U.S. shipments of coated mechanical (CM) paper and coated free sheet (CFS) paper decreased by 7% and 18% respectively.