Mar 24, 2009. /Lesprom Network/. U.S. paper and paperboard capacity edged down 0.8% in 2008 to 96.3 million tons, slightly below the 1.0% annual rate of contraction recorded from 2001 through 2007, as The American Forest & Paper Association informed Lesprom Network. Cumulatively, paper and paperboard capacity has contracted 7.3% since its 2000 peak level. 18 U.S. mills were permanently closed in 2008, shutting down 27 paper and paperboard machines, and an additional 14 machines were permanently shut down at other mills, The American Forest & Paper Association said. Furthermore, several mills and machines have been indefinitely idled in response to weak market conditions, but have not been removed from the survey base because they may be restarted at some future date. In 2007, 17 mills and 38 machines were permanently closed. Total paper and paperboard capacity is projected to decline 1.8% in 2009 and then expand by 0.3% in both 2010 and 2011, The American Forest & Paper Association said.