AF&PA Releases April 2024 Packaging Papers Monthly Report

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) released its November 2020 Containerboard Monthly report. Total Containerboard production in November increased two percent compared to November 2019. It was up four percent when compared to the same 11 months of 2019. November 2020 production of containerboard for export decreased six percent compared to the same month last year; it was up 13 percent year-to-date. The containerboard operating rate was 93.3 percent, essentially flat (-0.4 pts.) from November 2019 and up 2.5 points year-to-date. Mill inventories of containerboard at the end of November increased 39,000 short tons from the previous month and were down 2,000 short tons compared to November 2019.

International Paper has entered into an agreement to sell its 90.38% ownership interest in Olmuksan International Paper to Mondi Group for approximately €66 million. The Olmuksan business includes corrugated packaging facilities in Turkey with an approximate annual revenue of TRY1,093 million (€150 million). The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2021, subject to certain closing conditions and regulatory approvals. This action is in line with International Paper's strategy to serve markets from an advantaged position. Corrugated packaging remains a strategic business for International Paper in EMEA.

Last year, Mondi announced that it would expand its existing plant in Ansbach, Southern Germany, to become the largest heavy-duty corrugated cardboard plant in Europe. The “Ansbach 2020” project, an investment worth €30 million, is in its final stages of completion and is meeting its customers' needs with innovative sustainable packaging solutions. The plant successfully installed state of the art machinery, including a new corrugator, die-cutting-machine, inline-machine, paper storage, shipping facility, waste processing facility and intralogistics system. The investment is strengthening the plants position as the go-to-expert for innovative and sustainable packaging solutions in the region. Furthermore, the updated machinery results in less energy consumption and reduces the carbon footprint of the plant.