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Containerboard production charts steepest decline in years in Q1

North American containerboard production had its largest drop in years during the first quarter of 2026, according to data from the American Forest & Paper Association. Box shipments also declined, according to quarterly data from the Fibre Box Association.

The more than 8% year-over-year decline in containerboard production that AF&PA reported for Q1 is the largest such drop in at least two years; the organization only has the last two years worth of its quarterly data posted publicly.

This trend follows the large number of North American facility closures producers announced in 2025 that resulted in a historic, nearly 10% cut in industrywide production capacity. The last of the announced closures occurred earlier this year. 

Containerboard production charts steepest decline in years in Q1 | Packaging Dive

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