The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) released its April 2019 Containerboard Monthly report. The report featured revised data based on findings from the 59th Annual Capacity Survey. Containerboard production in April 2019 decreased 5.3 percent compared to April 2018 and was down 4.1 percent year-to-date. The average daily production compared to March 2019 was 3.1 percent higher.
The containerboard operating rate bounced back above 90 percent due to the high rate for medium (96.5 percent), while the liner operating rate was at 89.6 percent. In spite of the bounce back, the April operating rate was 6.2 points lower than the same month last year, and the year-to-date operating rate was down 5.8 points compared to last year.
Production for export, most of which is liner, was down nearly 20 percent year-over-year and was also down 20.5 percent year-to-date.
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