AF&PA Released Latest Packaging Papers & Specialty Packaging Report

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) announced publication of March 2021 Packaging Papers & Specialty Packaging Monthly report. 

The total shipments of packaging papers & specialty packaging have increased marginally by 3% compared to March 2020. The operating rate, at 91%, was down 2.2% from the year-ago month. The quarterly shipments too surged higher by 3%. The operating rate during the first three months of the year was stood marginally higher by 0.6%. The mill inventories at the end of the initial quarter recorded decline by 10,000 short tons over the prior month, but were up by 6,000 short tons when matched with March last year.

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Meantime, the total printing-writing paper shipments dipped by one-fifth in March 2021. The U.S. purchase of total printing-writing papers was down by 18%. The printing-writing paper inventory levels have dropped by 5% over the prior month.

The shipments of uncoated free sheet (UFS) paper witnessed 14% year-on-year decline. The coated mechanical (CM) paper shipments decreased 40% compared to March 2020. The UFS and CM inventory levels witnessed 6% rise and 2% fall respectively, compared to February 2021.

The U.S. purchases of coated free sheet papers and uncoated mechanical papers recorded declines by 29% and 15% respectively.