U.S. Paper, Paperboard, Pulp Capacity Stabilizing
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The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), Washington, D.C., USA, has released its 52nd Annual Survey of Paper, Paperboard, and Pulp Capacity, reporting that the U.S. paper and paperboard capacity decline slowed to 1.4% in 2011, to a level of 89.7 million short tons. Last year's decrease was smaller than the 3.1% reduction recorded in 2010. Total paper and paperboard capacity is expected to decline 1.0% in 2012 and then register increases of 0.6% and 0.5% in 2013 and 2014, respectively.
Containerboard and tissue paper capacity expanded in 2011, while the packaging and industrial converting and boxboard categories held approximately stable. Newsprint and printing and writing papers registered the largest 2011 capacity declines.
Several mills and machines were removed from the survey base during the 2011-2014 period because they have closed, plan to close, or have been idled for some time with few indications they will be restarted in the near future. However, several new tissue paper machines either started operating or will start operating by 2014, and a new recycled linerboard mill is scheduled to come online in mid-2013.
The survey reports U.S. industry capacity data for 2011 through 2014 for all major grades of paper, paperboard, and pulp, based on a comprehensive survey of all U.S. pulp and paper mills. Survey respondents represent about 90% of the U.S industry capacity.
For more information about the complete survey with detailed tables, contact Dina Menton at dina_menton@afandpa.org or 202-463-2710.
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