US containerboard production up 1.3 per cent in May 2016

The American Forest & Paper Association released its May 2016 U.S. Containerboard Statistics Report which said containerboard production was 1.3 percent higher compared to May 2015. The month-over-month average daily production compared to April 2016 was 2 percent higher.

The containerboard operating rate for May increased from 94.3 percent to 95.6 percent while the year-to-date operating rate of 94.3 percent was 1.5 percentage points lower compared to the same period in 2015.

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) serves to advance a sustainable U.S. pulp, paper, packaging, 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 4 percent of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP, manufactures approximately $200 billion in products annually, and employs nearly 900,000 men and women.