AF&PA sees increase in kraft paper shipments in April

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), based in Washington, has released its April 2014 “Kraft Paper Report” using data from the association’s 54th Annual Capacity Survey.

For the month of April, kraft paper shipments were 1.33 million tons, 4.4 percent higher than the prior month. Bleached kraft paper shipments were 2.6 percent greater in April than March, while unbleached kraft paper shipments were 4.6 percent higher during the same time period.

Overall, shipments for the first four months of 2014 were 2 percent lower than the same period last year, and month-end inventories decreased 3.6 percent in April compared with March.

The AF&PA also notes that April containerboard production decreased 5.6 percent from the prior month and was 0.8 percent lower than April 2013. The AF&PA adds that month-over-month average daily production decreased 2.4 percent.

Containerboard shipments for April, the AF&PA notes, were 2.817 million tons, which represented 160.2 billion square feet. The containerboard operating rate for April decreased 1.2 points from March, from 95.9 percent to 94.7 percent.

AF&PA is the national trade association of the forest, paper and wood products industry. The group represents member companies engaged in growing, harvesting and processing wood and wood fiber, manufacturing pulp, paper and paperboard products from both virgin and recycled fiber, and producing engineered and traditional wood products, the association says.