American Forest & Paper Association Releases August 2020 Boxboard Monthly Report

Banavali will focus on building materials science capabilities that can be used as the basis for creating new products, processes and services across the company. He will also partner with WestRock’s commercial, digital, marketing and innovation teams to advance the company’s innovation strategy with a strong focus on more environmentally sustainability products, breakthrough packaging designs and the digitalisation of packaging.

Fourth Quarter 2021: Net sales of $1.5 billion increased 14% as reported in fourth quarter 2021. Currency had an unfavorable impact of $16 million, or 1%. Net earnings were $169 million, or $1.12 per diluted share, in fourth quarter 2021 as compared to net earnings of $138 million, or $0.88 per diluted share, in fourth quarter 2020. Fourth quarter 2021 was favorably impacted by Special Items of $1 million. The after tax gain on the sale of Reflectix was predominantly offset by restructuring costs and Tax Special Items. Full Year 2021: Full year 2021 net sales of $5.5 billion increased 13% as reported. Currency had a favorable impact of $68 million, or approximately 1%. Full year 2021 net earnings were $491 million, or $3.22 per diluted share, as compared to net earnings of $484 million, or $3.10 per share, in full year 2020. Special Items had an unfavorable impact of $50 million in 2021, primarily attributable to Tax Special Items, restructuring related costs, and a loss on debt redemption, partially offset by the gain on the sale of Reflectix. Tax Special Items were primarily expense items attributable to increases in uncertain tax positions and revaluation of deferred tax assets. Comparatively, Special Items had an unfavorable impact of $14 million in 2020.

Packaging Corporation of America reported fourth quarter 2022 net income of $212 million, or $2.31 per share, and net income of $215 million, or $2.35 per share, excluding special items. Fourth quarter net sales were $1.98 billion in 2022 and $2.04 billion in 2021. Full year 2022 net income was $1.03 billion, or $11.03 per share, and net income of $1.04 billion, or $11.14 per share, excluding special items. Full year net sales were $8.5 billion in 2022 and $7.7 billion in 2021. In the Packaging segment, shipments per day were down (8.7%) and total corrugated products shipments, with one less shipping day, were down (10.2%) versus last year’s fourth quarter. Containerboard production was 961,000 tons, and containerboard inventory was down 66,000 tons from the third quarter of 2022 and down 46,000 tons compared to the fourth quarter of 2021. In the Paper segment, sales volume was down 14,000 tons compared to the third quarter of 2022 and down 15,000 tons from the fourth quarter of 2021.