The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) published its fourth-quarter 2025 reports for containerboard, boxboard and packaging papers, showing a year-over-year slump in production with exports and shipping positively impacting the sectors.
Total containerboard production fell 4% year over year, while operating rate remained steady, finishing at more than 91%
Linerboard production for export slumped throughout 2025, while medium production grew 3%.
Semichemical medium and recycled linerboard production were consistent, with overall declines of 1% and 2%, respectively.
While mill inventories dropped in October, they quickly rebounded in Q4 and settled at their highest level since 2022. December inventories tend to be higher, according to the AF&PA.
Total boxboard production in Q4 decreased 2% compared to Q4 2024 and was down 1% in 2025.
The boxboard operating rate was 85.6%, 2.3% lower than the same quarter in 2024. Unbleached kraft and coated recycled boxboard production was also flat, growing just 0.2% in Q4 YOY, but remaining down 4% for the full-year 2025.
Tube, can and drum domestic production also decreased 4% YOY and was down 1% for the full year. Unmade orders for solid bleached boxboard, unbleached kraft, coated recycled boxboard, and uncoated recycled boxboard all increased compared to December 2024, according to the AF&PA.
Despite capacity challenges, total packaging papers and specialty packaging shipments in December jumped 2% compared to Q4 2024 and were up 1% for the full year.
Bleached operating rate grew slightly from November to 74.5% but remained below the year-to-date rate of 75.1%, with capacity down 2.6% for the year, the AF&PA reported.
Unbleached bag and sack shipments were down 2.6% from December 2024 and down 2.2% in 2025.
Still, total inventories were up 6% from the same month in 2024.
