AF&PA Releases 47th Annual Survey

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) released its 47th Annual Survey of Paper, Paperboard, and Pulp Capacity. The survey indicates that U.S. paper and paperboard capacity continued to edge lower in 2006, declining 1.6 percent to 97.7 million short tons. U.S. paper and paperboard capacity contracted 4.7 percent in the period from 2000 through 2006 or at an average annual rate of 0.7 percent. The survey explains that paper and paperboard capacity will decline another 0.7 percent in 2007 and then re-expand nearly one percent during the subsequent two years—rising 0.7 percent in 2008 and 0.2 percent in 2009. It also covers U.S. industry capacity plans for the years 2006 through 2009 for all paper, paperboard, and pulp grades. Industry total capacity by grade for all U.S. mills is included in the report.