The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) released the following second quarter 2026 reports.
Boxboard
Total Boxboard production in Q2 increased by 2 percent compared to Q2 2025. The boxboard operating rate was 88.8 percent, down 0.6 points from the same quarter last year.
- Solid Bleached Boxboard production in Q2 increased 4 percent compared to Q2 2025.
- Unbleached Kraft & Coated Recycled Boxboard operating rate was 92.6 percent, up 2.6 points from the same quarter last year and up 2.0 points year-to-date.
- Uncoated Recycled Boxboard operating rate was 97.2 percent, up 3.6 points from the same quarter last year and up 2.1 points year-to-date.
Containerboard
The total industry operating rate increased to nearly 95 percent for the quarter compared to 93 percent for the preceding quarter. Total containerboard production in Q2 decreased 2 percent compared to Q2 2025. It was down 5 percent when compared to the same 6 months of 2025.
- The operating rates for 3 of the 4 major grades increased in Q2, with unbleached Kraft liner in particular going up to 95.7 percent. Recycled medium was the only grade that had an essentially flat operating rate since Q1 –down 0.1 points to 93.5 percent.
- Domestic demand was up 1 percent compared to the same quarter last year, despite the aforementioned decrease in total production over the same period. Most of the production decline contributed to reduced exports, which were down nearly 19 percent since Q2 2025.
Mill inventories dropped to their lowest level in over 15 months at the end of June.
Published September 2026
