Production for containerboard high in April

Containerboard production increased about 7 percent for the first four months of 2020 compared with the first four months of 2019, according to the American Forest & Paper Association’s (AF&PA’s) April 2020 Containerboard Monthly report. 

Production of containerboard for export increased 29 percent in April compared with April 2019, and it was up 41 percent year to date, according to AF&PA, which is based in Washington. The containerboard operating rate was at 95.9 percent in April, up 5.2 percentage points from April 2019 and up 5.6 percentage points year to date. 

AF&PA reports that mill inventories of containerboard at the end of April decreased 19,000 tons compared with the previous month and were up 28,000 tons compared with April 2019. 

While containerboard production was up in April, boxboard production decreased 2 percent in April 2020 compared with April 2019, according to AF&PA’s April 2020 Boxboard Monthly report. The boxboard operating rate was 96.6 percent, up 2.3 percentage points from April 2019 and flat year to date. Recycled boxboard production in April decreased 1 percent compared with April 2019, and it was down 1 percent for the first four months of 2020 compared with the first four months of 2019. 

The April 2020 Containerboard Monthly report and the April 2020 Boxboard Monthly report along with detailed tables, charts and data can be purchased by contacting Kory Bockman at Statistics_Publications@afandpa.org or 202-463-4716.