The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) released its March 2021 Container board Monthly report.
Total Container board production in March increased nine percent compared to March 2020. It was up two percent when compared to the same three months of 2020.
- March 2021 production of container board for export decreased 15 percent compared to the same month last year; it was down 25 percent year-to-date.
- The container board operating rate was 98.4 percent, up 2.8 points from March 2020 and essentially flat (-0.3 pts.) year-to-date.
- Mill inventories of container board at the end of March decreased 77,000 short tons from the previous month and were down 56,000 short tons compared to March 2020.
NOTE: Beginning in 2021, AF&PA is publishing the Container board reports on a quarterly basis; the reports will still contain the monthly data. Please contact comm@afandpa.org with questions.
The complete report with detailed tables, charts and historical data can be purchased by contacting Kory Bockman at Statistics_Publications@afandpa.org or 202-463-4716.
The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) serves to advance a sustainable U.S. pulp, paper, packaging, tissue 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 four percent of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP, manufactures nearly $300 billion in products annually and employs approximately 950,000 men and women. The industry meets a payroll of approximately $55 billion annually and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 45 states.
