AF&PA Releases Annual Survey of U.S Capacity

The American Forest & Paper Association released its Annual Survey of Paper, Paperboard and Pulp Capacity today. Results of the survey showed that U.S. paper and paperboard capacity continued to decline in 2005, decreasing 0.8% to 99.3 million tons. The decline extends a downward trend that began in 2001. U.S. paper and paperboard capacity contracted at an average annual rate of 0.9% between 2000 and 2005. Looking ahead, the survey indicates that capacity will decline 2.0% in 2006, and then edge higher in the subsequent tow years, rising 0.2% in 2007 and 0.4% in 2008.