Containerboard Production Declines in Q2

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), Washington, has released its quarterly containerboard and boxboard reports. While boxboard production essentially was flat in the second quarter, containerboard production faced steeper declines.

 

According to the report, total containerboard production in the second quarter of 2025 decreased 5 percent compared with the second quarter of 2024 and was down 3 percent compared with the same six months of last year.

 

Operating rates for all four major grades also declined compared with this year’s first quarter, with the overall rate dropping nearly 3 points.

 

Containerboard production for export saw the biggest decrease, declining nearly 12 percent year to date, according to the AF&PA’s report, while domestic new supply declined by 1.2 percent.

 

The AF&PA also reports that inventories at mills peaked in May, reaching the highest level in more than 15 months, before declining slightly to the end the second quarter at 433,000 short tons.

 

Meanwhile, the AF&PA reports that total boxboard production in the second quarter remained essentially flat compared with the second quarter of 2024. However, the boxboard operating rate was 87.6 percent, down 1.8 points from the same period last year.

 

Solid bleached boxboard domestic production increased 6 percent in the second quarter of this year compared with last year, while plate, dish and tray domestic production increased 10 percent in the same period.

 

Finally, the AF&PA reports uncoated recycled boxboard unmade orders were up 4 percent compared with the end of the previous quarter.