U.S. containerboard production in May 2020 increased 1% compared to May 2019. It was up 6% when compared to the same five months of 2019, as the American Forest & Paper Association reported.
May 2020 production of containerboard for export increased 42% compared to the same month last year; it was up 41% year-to-date.
The containerboard operating rate was 90.3%, essentially flat (-0.2 pts.) from May 2019 and up 4.4 points year-to-date.
Mill inventories of containerboard at the end of May increased 39,000 short tons from the previous month and were up 77,000 short tons compared to May 2019.
The American Forest & Paper Association serves to advance a sustainable U.S. pulp, paper, packaging, tissue and wood products manufacturing industry through fact-based public policy and marketplace advocacy.
