A
total of 37.852 million tons of recovered fiber were consumed by domestic paper
and paperboard mills last year. The total was a 2.2 percent increase from
domestic paper stock consumption in 1999.
According
to the American Forest and Paper Association, this past December’s total
consumption level of 2.823 million tons, however, was a decline from December
1999’s consumption level of 3.010 million tons.
A
sign of concern for the paper stock industry is the steadily increasing
inventory level being reported by domestic mills.
According
to the AFPA, the inventory of recovered fiber at mills ended the year at 1.1579
million tons, a 1.9 percent increase from the previous month, as well as a 4.8
percent jump from December 1999’s figures.
With
high inventory of recovered fiber, a number of mills have been sharply
curtailing their purchases to bring inventories down to more manageable levels.
To accomplish this a number of paper and paperboard mills are either halting
new purchases of recovered fiber or greatly reducing the monthly purchases.

Explore the February 2001 Issue
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