The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) released first quarter reports.
Boxboard
Total Boxboard production in Q1 decreased 1 percent compared to Q1 2024. The boxboard operating rate was 87.8 percent, up 1.6 points from the same quarter last year.
- Solid Bleached Boxboard production in Q1 increased 1 percent compared to Q1 2024.
- Solid Bl. Folding – Export production increased 14 percent compared to Q1 2024.
- Uncoated Recycled Boxboard production decreased 3 percent compared to Q1 2024.
Containerboard
According to the report, total Containerboard production in Q1 remained essentially flat (-0.4 percent) compared to Q1 2024.
- The operating rate for Unbleached Kraft Liner decreased compared to Q1 2024, while rates for all the other grades increased. The rates for all 4 grades were above 90 percent for the first time in over a year.
- Production for export increased in Q1 after 2 consecutive quarterly declines in the 2nd half of 2024, but it was still 7.7 percent lower than Q1 2024.
- Domestic new supply for Q1 increased 1.0 percent from the same quarter last year, but declined 3.8 percent from Q4 2024, which had been the strongest quarter since 2022.
- Inventories at mills at the end of Q1 declined 4.2 percent from their December 2024 levels. They were nevertheless 6.8 percent higher than the average mill inventories for the last 15 months.
Published July 2025
