The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) released its April 2019 U.S. Boxboard Report. According to the report, the total U.S. boxboard production registered a decline of 3% in the month of April this year. The boxboard operating rate for the month was 95.4%.
The production of solid bleached boxboard and liner was up by 2.5% during the initial four months of 2019. Also, recycled boxboard production climbed higher by 1.7%. On the other hand, the unbleached kraft and gypsum production witnessed a decline of 2% over the previous year in Jan-Apr ’19.
The U.S. containerboard production has declined by 5.3%, upon comparison with April last year. The year-to-date production too was down by 4.1%. The containerboard operating rates exceeded 90%. However, the monthly operating rate was down by 6.2% when matched with April 2018. The year-to-date operating rate has dropped by 5.8% upon comparison with the previous year. The containerboard production for export witnessed sharp decline by nearly 20% in April 2019.
As per AF&PA estimates, the packaging paper shipments by the U.S. reported 3.7% decline year-on-year. The operating rates dropped to 88.5% in April, as compared with 90% in March this year. The packaging paper inventory levels increased 1.7% from March.
Bag and sack shipments during Jan-Apr ’19 were down marginally by 1.1%. The multiwall and converting shipments too were down by 3.6% and 1.4% respectively. On the contrary, food wrapping shipments increased marginally by 0.5%.
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