The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) released its March 2024 Packaging Papers Monthly report.
Total packaging papers & specialty packaging shipments in March decreased 5% compared to March 2023. They were down 2% when compared to the same 3 months of 2023.
The operating rate for bleached packaging papers was 82.5%, up 5.7 points from March 2023 and up 9.5 points year-to-date.
Shipments of the biggest subgrade in unbleached packaging papers -- bag & sack -- were 99,700 short tons for the month of March, down 0.3% from the same month last year but up 3.5% year-to-date.