The American Forest & Paper Association has released its paper and board production statistics for the month of October 2015.

Printing-Writing Paper

Total shipments decreased 8.0% in October, compared to the same month of 2014. Total printing-writing paper inventory levels fell 3.0% from September.

Uncoated free sheet shipments were down 4.0% from October of last year, the fourth decrease in the past six months. Imports of UFS decreased 34% year-over-year.

Coated free sheet shipments decreased 7.0% compared to October 2014. Imports of CFS fell 8.0% in September, the second year-to-year decrease in the past three months.

Uncoated mechanical shipments were down 3.0% compared to October 2014. Imports of UM papers were down 12% in September, the 15th consecutive monthly decline.

Coated mechanical shipments in October were down 21% relative to October 2014. Imports of CM rose in September by 27% compared to the same period last year.

Kraft Statistics Report

Total kraft paper shipments were 149.2 thousand short tons in October, 7.2% higher than in the same month of 2014. Overall, year to date shipments, up to October 2015, were 2.0% higher than in the same period of in 2014. Total month-end inventories increased to 76.8 thousand short tons.

Bleached kraft paper shipments rose from 8.6 thousand short tons in September to 9.4 thousand in October.

Unbleached kraft shipments rose from 128.0 thousand tons in September to 139.8 thousand in October.
Containerboard Output

Containerboard production was 1.0% lower in October, compared to the same month in 2014. The month-over-month average daily production in October was 1.4% lower than in September. The containerboard operating rate for October fell to 94.5%, while the year-to-date operating rate remains flat, compared to 2014, at 96.3%.

Boxboard Report

Total boxboard production increased 2.0% over October 2014, and was up 0.5% from September.

Unbleached kraft boxboard increased over October 2014 and over September 2015.

Total solid bleached boxboard and liner production rose, compared to October 2014, but fell compared to September 2015.

Production of recycled boxboard rose, compared both to October 2014 and September 2015.