AF&PA: U.S. Containerboard Output Soared 10%

The containerboard operating rate was 93.3%, up 7.3% from March 2019.

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

In accordance with the monthly U.S. Boxboard Report by the Association, the total U.S. boxboard production recorded decline by 2%, as compared to March last year. The boxboard operating rate was down by 1.0 points from the prior year at 94.8%. The recycled boxboard production was down 1% during the month, whereas it remained almost flat during the initial three-month period.

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The containerboard operating rate was 93.3%, up 7.3% from March 2019. The total containerboard production increased 10% during the month. The March 2020 containerboard production for export registered notable increase by 39% over the same month last year. The mill inventories of containerboard reported decline by 8,000 short tons from the previous month as on end-March this year. When compared with March 2019, the inventories declined by 2,000 short tons.

Meantime, AF&PA reported 3% surge in total packaging papers & specialty packaging shipments. The operating rate witnessed a jump by 2.3% from March last year to 92.6%. The mill inventories recorded month-on-month decline by 3,000 short tons. Upon comparison with the prior year levels, the inventories were down by almost the same quantity.

The total printing-writing paper shipments slipped by 4% in March this year. The inventory levels saw a decline by 4% when compared to February 2020.

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