March 18, 2019

American Forest & Paper Association Releases February 2019 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 February 2019 U.S. Packaging Papers & Specialty Packaging Monthly report on March 15.

Total Packaging Papers shipments were down 3.3 percent from February 2018 and flat year-to-date. Bag & Sack shipments were down 2.0 percent year-to-date; Multiwall shipments were up 4.4 percent; Food Wrapping shipments were up 0.9 percent; and Converting shipments were down 0.6 percent. The operating rate for February decreased to 89.5 percent compared to 91.3 percent in January. Inventories remained essentially flat since January and were 3.4 percent lower 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.