AF&PA Containerboard Output Soared Substantially

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) released March 2021 Boxboard Monthly report.

When compared with the corresponding month a year before, the total boxboard production in March 2021 remained essentially flat, falling marginally by 0.4%. The boxboard operating rate, at 94%, was up by 1.4% from March 2020. The production during the initial three-month period in 2021 declined 2% over the previous year. The quarterly boxboard operating rate surged higher by 1.1%.

The monthly Solid Bleached Boxboard production recorded 4% decline from March 2020, whereas the quarterly output too was down by 4%. The recycled boxboard production saw decline by 3% during the month, whereas that during Jan-Mar ’21 witnessed 4% dip. On the contrary, Unbleached Kraft & Gypsum production increased significantly by 9%. It was up by 3% during Q1 2021.

Meantime, the total containerboard production in March increased 9% compared to March 2020. It was up 2% when compared to the same three months of 2020. The monthly containerboard production for export registered 15% decline during the month. In the first three months, it was down by almost one-fourth. The containerboard operating rate stood at 98.4%. The mill inventories at the end of March 2021 were down by 77,000 short tons from the prior month.

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