U.S. containerboard production in Q3 2024 increased 3% compared to Q3 2023. It was up 6% when compared to the same nine months of 2023, according to the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA).

Operating rates for all major grades except Recycled Medium declined compared to Q2 2024, but total production was essentially the same between the two quarters.

Production for export decreased nearly 15% from Q2 and was the lowest quarter so far in this year, but is still up more than 26% year-to-date due to the weak export numbers in the first half of 2023.

Recycled Medium had a very strong quarter with production exceeding 1.9 million tons and the operating rate above 90% for the first time since Q2 2022. Semichemical Medium production on the other hand dipped below 1 million tons for the quarter due to particularly weak September numbers.

New supply for Q3 increased 2.8% from Q2 and was the highest it has been since Q2 2022, with strong domestic production and imports indicating growing demand for containerboard stateside, compared to the slightly weaker exports.