USA Paper Shipments Continue to Fall

From a AF&PA Report -
A new report by the American Forest & Paper Association presents final data for the U.S. paper and paperboard industry for 2008 and shows total production of these products declined 4.9% to 88.4 million tons, the lowest production amount in 15 years.
“These results follow a modest 0.8% decline in 2007, and reflect the severity of the recession in 2008 on the paper and paperboard industry in the United States,” said AF&PA Chief Economist Dr. Stanley Lancey.
The report shows the peak year for paper and paperboard production in the United States was 1999 when production totaled 98.6 million tons.
Ironically, worldwide economic forces suppressed imports to and boosted exports from the U.S. during 2008, according to Dr. Lancey. The report shows imports of paper and paperboard declined 9.5% in 2008 while exports increased 6.1% to an all-time high of 15.5 million tons.