U.S. Containerboard Production for Export Registered 6% Dip

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) published paper statistics for the month of August this year.

The recent report published by the Association says that total containerboard production by the country recorded 0.4% year-on-year surge during August 2020. The combined production during the initial eight months of the year too was up by 4% when matched with Jan-Aug ’19.

The containerboard production for export has declined by 6% during the month and was up by 23% during the year-to-date period. The containerboard operating rate reported slight decline from 92.5% in August 2019 to 92.1% in August this year. The mill inventories of containerboard at the end of August this year were 35,000 short tons higher when compared to August last year, AF&PA report said.

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The total shipments of packaging papers & specialty packaging recorded an increase by 1% over the previous year. The Jan-Aug ’20 shipments were up 3% year-on-year. The operating rates too posted marginal decline by 2.7 points to 85.2%. The mill inventories at the end of August this year were up by 12,000 short tons, as compared with August 2019.

The total printing-writing paper shipments recorded notable decline by 24% in August 2020, compared with the same month a year before.  The U.S. purchases too reported similar decline by 24%. The inventory levels remained essentially unchanged upon comparison with the prior month. The U.S. shipments of coated free sheet papers recorded 19% year-on-year decline, AF&PA report said.