AF&PA Releases March 2020 Reports

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Total Containerboard production in March increased 10 percent compared to March 2019. It was up eight percent when compared to the same three months of 2019. 

Containerboard

Total Containerboard production in March increased 10 percent compared to March 2019. It was up eight percent when compared to the same three months of 2019. 

  • March 2020 production of containerboard for export increased 39 percent compared to the same month last year; it was up 44 percent year-to-date.
  • The containerboard operating rate was 93.3 percent, up 7.3 points from March 2019 and up 4.5 points year-to-date.
  • Mill inventories of containerboard at the end of March decreased 8,000 short tons from the previous month, and were down 2,000 short tons compared to March 2019.

Boxboard

Total Boxboard production in March decreased two percent compared to March 2019. It was down two percent when compared to the same three months of 2019. The boxboard operating rate was 94.8 percent, down 1.0 points from March 2019 and up 0.5 points year-to-date.

  • Solid Bleached Boxboard production in March decreased six percent compared to March 2019. It was down five percent when compared to the same three months of 2019.
  • Recycled Boxboard production in March decreased one percent compared to March 2019. It was essentially flat (-0.2 percent) when compared to the same three months of 2019.
  • Unbleached Kraft & Gypsum production in March increased four percent compared to March 2019. It was up two percent when compared to the same three months of 2019.

Packaging Papers

Total packaging papers and specialty packaging shipments in March increased three percent compared to March 2019. They were up one percent when compared to the same three months of 2019. 

  • The operating rate was 92.6 percent, up 2.3 points from March 2019 and down 0.5 points year-to-date.
  • Mill inventories at the end of March decreased 3,000 short tons from the previous month, and were down 3,000 short tons compared to March 2019.

Printing-Writing Paper

According to the report, total printing-writing paper shipments decreased four percent in March compared to March 2019. U.S. purchases of total printing-writing papers decreased seven percent in March compared to the same month last year. Total printing-writing paper inventory levels decreased four percent when compared to February 2020.

  • Uncoated free sheet (UFS) paper shipments decreased five percent compared to March 2019 while the inventory level decreased seven percent compared to February 2020. UFS imports decreased 19 percent while exports increased 13 percent in February 2020.
  • U.S. purchases of coated free sheet (CFS) papers in March decreased nine percent compared to last March while the inventory level increased two percent compared to February 2020. CFS imports decreased five percent while exports increased 12 percent in February 2020.
  • Coated mechanical (CM) paper shipments decreased three percent compared to March 2019 while the inventory level decreased three percent compared to February 2020. CM imports decreased 35 percent while exports increased 19 percent in February 2020.
  • U.S. purchases of uncoated mechanical (UM) papers in March decreased seven percent compared to last March while the inventory level decreased three percent compared to February 2020. UM imports and exports both decreased compared to February 2019, down 21 percent and 17 percent respectively.

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The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) serves to advance a sustainable U.S. pulp, paper, packaging, and wood products manufacturing industry through fact-based public policy and marketplace advocacy. AF&PA member companies make products essential for everyday life from renewable and recyclable resources and are committed to continuous improvement through the industry's sustainability initiative - Better Practices, Better Planet 2020. The forest products industry accounts for approximately 4 percent of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP, manufactures about $210 billion in products annually, and employs nearly 900,000 men and women. The industry meets a payroll of approximately $50 billion annually and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 47 states. Visit AF&PA online at www.afandpa.org or follow us on Twitter @ForestandPaper.


Source: The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA)