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January 18, 2019
Press Release

American Forest & Paper Association Releases December 2018 U.S. Packaging Papers & Specialty Packaging Monthly Report

CONTACT: Barbara Riley
(202) 463-2436, comm@afandpa.org

WASHINGTON - The American Forest & Paper Association released its December 2018 U.S. Packaging Papers & Specialty Packaging Monthly report on January 16, 2019.

Total Packaging Papers shipments were down 7.9 percent from December 2017 but up 1.8 percent year-to-date. Bag and Sack shipments were up 4.4 percent year-to-date; Multiwall shipments were down 1.4 percent; Converting shipments were up 0.5 percent; and Food Wrapping shipments were up 1.9 percent. The operating rate for December dropped to 87.0 percent compared to 89.5 percent in November. Inventories increased 2.2 percent since November and were 4.9 percent higher than the same month last year.

The complete report with detailed tables, charts and historical data can be purchased by contacting Statistics_Publications@afandpa.org.

 

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) serves to advance public policies that foster economic growth, job creation and global competitiveness for a vital sector that makes the essential paper and packaging products Americans use every day. The U.S. forest products industry employs more than 925,000 people, largely in rural America, and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 44 states. Our industry accounts for approximately 4.7% of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP, manufacturing more than $435 billion in products annually. AF&PA member companies are significant producers and users of renewable biomass energy and are committed to making sustainable products for a sustainable future through the industry’s decades-long initiative — Better Practices, Better Planet 2030.