Recycled Board Production Improves for July

The production of recycled paperboard posted a modest 0.9 percent improvement for July, as well as a slight increase from figures over the first seven months of the year.

According to the American Forest and Paper Association, recycled board production reached 1.344 million tons for July, compared to 1.307 million tons the same time last year.

The improvement for the month pushed the seven-month total to 9.174 million tons, compared to last year’s seven-month total of 9.094 million tons.

While the figures for the month are a positive sign, the overall market improved by a much stronger 1.5 percent for the month to 4.121 million tons.

By both percentage and tonnage, the production of recycled linerboard posted the strongest improvement for the month. According to recent statistics from the AFPA, production of this grade jumped by 5 percent to 376,000 tons. The improvement was far greater than total linerboard production, which increased a still positive 2.5 percent for the month.

Recycled corrugated medium also increased for the month. For July, recycled medium production stands at 376,000 tons, a 2.3 percent improvement from last July. During the same time, total corrugated medium production increased an even better 3.5 percent.

The biggest laggard for the month is recycled boxboard. For July, production stands at 215,000 tons, a 0.8 percent decline from figures the same time last year.

The decline in recycled boxboard followed an overall downward trend in the total boxboard business. For July, total boxboard production dropped by 2 percent, with the annual rate, year to date, standing at 14.336 million tons.