Containerboard production declines 5 percent year to date

Containerboard production decreased 7.8 percent in July 2019 compared with July 2018, the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), Washington, in its July 2019 Containerboard Monthly report. Containerboard production is also down 5.3 percent year to date. However, the average daily production of containerboard increased 2.5 percent in July 2019 compared with June 2019.

AF&PA reports that the containerboard operating rate increased from 89.1 percent in June to 89.9 percent in July. While the total linerboard rate increased to 88.0 percent, it has been below 90 percent in five out of seven months this year. The July total operating rate was 8.7 points lower than the same month last year and the year-to-date operating rate was down 6.6 points. Production for export, most of which is linerboard, was down 18.3 percent month-over-month and was down 18.5 percent year-to-date.

AF&PA also released its July 2019 U.S. Boxboard report—total boxboard monthly production decreased 1.0 percent in July 2019 when compared with July 2018. The total boxboard operating rate was 93.8 percent for July, AF&PA reports. Total solid bleached boxboard and liner production decreased 0.9 percent year to date; recycled boxboard production fell 1.0 percent year to date; and unbleached kraft and gypsum decreased 0.5 percent year to date.

Both reports with detailed tables, charts and historical data can be purchased by contacting Kory Bockman at Statistics_Publications@afandpa.org or 202-463-4716.