The consumption of recovered fiber at domestic mills over the first ten months of this year is down 1.1 percent from figures during the same time last year. According to the American Forest and Paper Association, consumption for this year stands at 29.364 million tons, compared to last year’s 10-month total of 29.681 million tons.
While figures are down between the two years, the consumption total for this October, 2.986 million tons, is essentially unchanged from last October’s consumption total of 2.990 million tons.
The decline in consumption can be directed partly toward the significant amount of extended downtime that was taken through this year. While consumption is down, the inventory of recovered fiber at domestic mills declined by a much sharper 2.7 percent at the end of October, compared to last October’s numbers.
Despite the decline, over the past several months inventory levels have been growing. The inventory level for this October is up 6 percent from the previous month, and follows a trend of increased inventory levels at domestic mills.
Recovered fiber is not the only product that is seeing inventory levels lower than the same time last year. Linerboard, corrugated medium, and printing and writing inventories are all down, from 6 percent to more than 13 percent.