Containerboard production rate strong for Q1

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) has reported that containerboard production was up in March compared with the same month in 2020.

According to the association’s March 2021 Containerboard Monthly Report, total containerboard production in March increased 9 percent compared with March 2020. Overall containerboard production for the first three months of 2021 is up 2 percent compared with the first three months of 2020.

In March, production of containerboard for export decreased 15 percent compared with the same month in 2020, according to the report. Overall production of containerboard for export for the first three months of the year is down 25 percent compared with the first three months of 2020.

AF&PA reports that mill inventories of containerboard decreased 77,000 tons by the end of March from the previous month and were down 56,000 tons compared with March 2020.

According to AF&PA’s March 2021 Packaging Papers & Specialty Packaging Monthly report, total packaging papers and specialty packaging shipments in March increased 3 percent compared with the same month in 2020. Overall packaging papers and specialty packaging shipments were also up 3 percent for the first three months of the year compared with the same time frame in 2020.

AF&PA reports that the operating rate for packaging papers and specialty packaging was at 91 percent, down 2.2 points from March 2020 and up about 0.6 points year to date. According to the association’s March 2021 Packaging Papers & Specialty Packaging Monthly report, mill inventories at the end of March decreased 10,000 tons compared with the previous month and were up 6,000 tons compared with March 2020.

Regarding printing and writing grades, the association reports that total printing-writing paper shipments decreased 20 percent in March compared with the same month in 2020. U.S. purchases of printing-writing papers decreased 18 percent in March compared with the same month last year.

According to AF&PA’s March 2021 Printing-Writing Monthly report, total printing-writing paper inventory levels decreased 5 percent compared with levels in February.

For the complete reports with detailed tables, charts and historical data, contact Kory Bockman at statistics_publications@afandpa.org or call 202-463-4716.