U.S. Containerboard Production Rises through May

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For the seventh straight month, U.S. containerboard paper production rose sharply compared with last year, according to the AF&PA (Washington, D.C., USA) U.S. Containerboard Statistics Report for May 2010. Total production last month increased 238,100 tons or 9.1% over May 2009. Total production amounts increased over April 2010, with average daily production up 0.3%. Year-to-date 2010 production increased 12.6% over 2009. The containerboard operating rate for May 2010 rose 12.2 points over May 2009 to 95.2%.

As with total containerboard, linerboard production experienced seven months of large increases over last year. May's production level was 10.4% higher than in May 2009. Linerboard production rose as did the average daily production compared with April 2010. Production for exports decreased 4.0% over this time last year but increased 1.9% compared with April 2010. Linerboard's May operating rate mirrors the rise, increasing 12.6 points over May 2009 to 95.5%.

May corrugating medium production was up 43,500 tons or 5.8% from May 2009. May's production rose 1.3% compared with last month, but the average daily production showed 2.0%. Exports reported an increase, posting a 26.8% rise over same month last year but fell 10.0% from April 2010. The May corrugating medium operating rate of 94.5%, showing an increase of 11.0 points over May 2009.