AF&PA Releases 54th Annual Survey of Paper, Paperboard and Pulp Capacity
WASHINGTON, DC—May 15, 2014—The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) has released the 54th Annual Survey of Paper, Paperboard and Pulp Capacity, reporting that U.S. paper and paperboard capacity declined 1.1 percent in 2013.
The survey findings reveal the direction and magnitude of capacity changes vary by grade category. Tissue paper capacity reached an all-time high in 2013 due in part to rising tissue paper consumption resulting from U.S. population growth. Containerboard capacity has been rebounding from recession-induced reductions. However, capacity to produce newsprint and printing-writing papers has been trending downwards.
The survey reports U.S. industry capacity data for 2013 and 2014 for all major grades of paper, paperboard and pulp, as well as fiber consumption, based on a comprehensive survey of all U.S. pulp and paper mills. Survey respondents represent about 90 percent of the U.S industry capacity.
About the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA)
The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) serves to advance a sustainable U.S. pulp, paper, packaging, and wood products manufacturing industry through fact-based public policy and marketplace advocacy. AF&PA member companies make products essential for everyday life from renewable and recyclable resources and are committed to continuous improvement through the industry’s sustainability initiative—Better Practices, Better Planet 2020. The forest products industry accounts for approximately 4 percent of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP, manufactures approximately $210 billion in products annually, and employs nearly 900,000 men and women. The industry meets a payroll of approximately $50 billion annually and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 47 states.
Source: AF&PA.
