WASHINGTON (News release) - The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) has released the 65th Paper Industry Annual Capacity and Fiber Consumption Survey. The report provides detailed data on U.S. paper industry capacity and production compiled by the AF&PA statistics team.
The industry utilized its assets more effectively with total paper and paperboard operating rate reaching 87.5% in 2024, a nearly four percentage point increase from 2023.
U.S. paper and paperboard production increased 3.2% last year, with increases in all categories, led by strong growth in containerboard. U.S. paper and paperboard capacity declined by 2.0% in 2024, to 78.1 million tons. By comparison, the average annual rate of decline since 2015 was 0.9%.
The industry continues to invest in new machines and machine conversions, particularly in the packaging and tissue sectors. Four machines came online in 2023 producing containerboard, one boxboard machine came online this month, and another will start up later this year. One new tissue machine is planned for startup in the second half. However, more capacity has been removed across all sectors resulting from investments in mill system modernization and streamlining of businesses for efficiency and competitiveness.
U.S. Paper-Based Packaging Capacity
Containerboard capacity declined 0.9% in 2024. Despite three consecutive declines in 2022 through 2024, containerboard capacity continues to account for more than 50% of total U.S. capacity to produce paper and paperboard.
Packaging paper capacity increased 4.6% on the heels of a strong 4.8% growth rate in 2023. For the second year, all the growth came in unbleached packaging papers while bleached packaging papers has now declined for six consecutive years. Meanwhile, boxboard capacity declined 3.3% percent in 2024. One bleached boxboard machine came online this month following conversion from printing-writing and a recycled boxboard machine is scheduled to come online in the fourth quarter of this year as part of a new mill.
U.S. Printing-Writing and Tissue Capacity
Printing-writing capacity fell 6.9% in 2024, the steepest decline since the pandemic-induced drop of 14.9% in 2021. After printing-writing capacity dropped below 10 million tons for the first time in 2023, the level is now below 9 million tons. Printing-Writing accounted for just 12% of total U.S. paper and paperboard capacity in 2024, the same as in 2023.
Tissue capacity declined 1.7% in 2024. In spite of the three recent consecutive year-over-year declines, the tissue share of total U.S. paper and paperboard capacity has grown steadily compared to other grades over time, from 7.2% to 11.3% since the year 2000.
What is Capacity?
Capacity is the tonnage of paper, paperboard or pulp that could be produced with full use of equipment and adequate supplies of raw materials and labor, and assuming full demand.
AF&PA's Capacity Survey details U.S. industry capacity data for 2024 and 2025 for all major grades of paper, paperboard and pulp, as well as fiber consumption. It is based on a comprehensive survey of U.S. pulp and paper mills. It includes production data for 2024.
AF&PA data represent about 89% of U.S. paper and paperboard industry capacity, with estimates completing the data set.
How to Purchase the AF&PA Capacity Survey?
The complete Survey is available for purchase online. Please visit our website afandpa.org/statistics-
