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AF&PA Releases Q3 2023 Containerboard Quarterly Report

WASHINGTON – The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) released its Q3 2023 Containerboard Quarterly report. According to the report, total Containerboard production in the third quarter of 2023 decreased 1% when compared to Q3 2022 and was down 8% compared to the same 9 months last year.

  • Operating rates for all major grades decreased compared to Q2 2023 while total production was up 4.2%; Q3 has one more production day than Q2.
  • Total production for export was up 16.2% from Q2 2023 and also up 16.3% from Q3 2022, though it was 10.7% lower year-to-date.
  • New supply of containerboard (domestic production plus imports) increased for the third consecutive quarter but was still down 7.1% year-to-date.
  • Mill inventories ended the quarter at 370,500 short tons, 11.6% lower than at the end of Q3 2022.

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 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