US packaging paper shipments down 13 per cent in July

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) released its July 2019 Packaging Papers and Specialty Packaging Monthly report on August 16.

Total packaging papers shipments were down 13.0 percent from July 2018 and down 4.6 percent year-to-date. Bag and sack shipments were down 3.1 percent year-to-date; multiwall shipments were down 11.8 percent; food wrapping shipments were up 4.1 percent; and converting shipments were down 7.1 percent. The operating rate for July dropped to 81.6 percent compared to 86.2 percent in June. Inventory levels decreased one percent from June.