The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), Washington, D.C., says domestic consumption of recovered fiber for August 2011 was 2.56 million tons, a 6 percent drop from August 2010. The figures for this August are essentially the same as July 2011’s domestic consumption figures.

The AF&PA’s August 2011 "Recovered Paper Monthly Report" notes that there was fluctuation within individual paper stock grades, with the use of old newspapers (ONP) dropping by 9.5 percent from July 2011 to August 2011, and high-grade deinking paper consumption declining 2.5 percent. However, mixed paper consumption increased 3.7 percent; OCC (old corrugated containers) increased 0.8 percent; and pulp substitutes grew 6.5 percent.

The report also shows that inventories at the end of August reached their highest point for 2011. August saw an increase in recovered fiber delivered to mills, which brought the industry-wide inventory levels to their highest. Meanwhile, the domestic consumption for the first eight months of the year is down 4 percent from the same time in 2010.

U.S. exports of recovered paper were flat in July compared to the previous month, halting a two-month slide in paper stock exports. According to the AF&PA, year-to-date exports for 2011 continue to be 14 percent greater by volume than last year and 19 percent by value.