AF&PA reports mixed output figures for January 2018

The Washington, D.C.-based American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) has reported that containerboard production was up 0.7 percent in January 2018 compared to January 2017.

The month-over-month average daily production compared to December 2017 was 2.9 percent lower, however. The containerboard operating rate in January 2018 was 97.2 percent, or 2.2 percentage points higher than January 2017. Production for export was 10.5 percent lower than January 2017, which was the month with the second highest export volume in all of 2017.

In the paper packaging segment, shipments in January 2018 checked in at 219,200 tons, 9.5 percent lower than January 2017. Bag and sack shipments were down 13.4 percent month-over-month, but food wrapping shipments were up 0.4 percent. Specialty multiwall packaging shipments were down 19.0 percent.

The mill operating rate in the paper packaging sector in January 2018 was 84.3 percent, the second lowest over the last 13 months. Inventories at the end of January stood at 171,800 tons, up 3.6 percent since December 2017.

The complete reports for both containerboard and paper packaging grades, with detailed tables, charts, and historical data, can be purchased by contacting AF&PA at Statistics_Publications@afandpa.org.