U.S. Packaging Paper Shipment Saw Marginal Drop in February

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster):  The U.S Packaging Paper export statistics published by the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) indicates 3.1% decline in total packaging paper shipment during February this year. The shipments totaled 207,700 tons during the month. Meantime, bag and sack shipments declined heavily by 8.6% year-to-date. Multiwall shipments tumbled by nearly 15% over the year. Also, inventories rose marginally by 2.2% to total 175,600 tons. It must be noted that the packaging paper exports had declined by 10% in January this year.

The total shipments of U.S. printing-writing paper have declined by 5% in February 2018. The shipments of uncoated free sheet (UFS) paper reported slight improvement over February 2017. The coated free sheet (CFS) paper shipments too declined during the month. The CFS paper shipments recorded ninth straight month of decline. The shipments of coated mechanical (CM) paper also declined over the previous year. Meantime, the uncoated mechanical (UM) paper shipments registered the 20^th consecutive month of decline.

ALSO READ: AF&PA Announces 2017 Sustainability Award Winners

The U.S. containerboard production has dropped by 3% when compared with February 2017. The average daily production stood 3.2% lower when compared with the prior month. The containerboard operating rate was 94.1%, higher from around 91% during February last year. The containerboard production meant for exports registered modest 6% decline over the previous year.

The AF&PA report suggests 2.4% jump in total boxboard production by the country when matched with February last year. However, the production was down by 4.8% from the prior month. The production of unbleached kraft boxboard and solid bleached boxboard & liner increased over the same month a year ago. On the other hand, recycled boxboard production witnessed decline when compared with February 2017.