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September 17, 2026
Press Release

AF&PA Releases August 2026 Packaging Papers Monthly Report

WASHINGTON – The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) released the August 2026 Packaging Papers Monthly report. 

Total packaging papers & specialty packaging shipments in August increased 4% compared to August 2025. They were up 5% when compared to the same 8 months of 2025.

  • Unbleached bag & sack shipments hit a new record at nearly 119,000 short tons in August. They were up 8.4% year-to-date.
  • The bleached packaging papers operating rate was 91.1%; it was above 90% for the third time this year.
  • Total August 2026 inventories were up 1% compared to last August and were at their highest level in the last 13 months.

A subscription to the complete report with detailed tables, charts and historical data can be purchased by contacting Kory Bockman at Statistics_Publications@afandpa.org or at 202-463-4716.

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) serves to advance public policies that foster economic growth, job creation and global competitiveness for a vital sector that makes the essential paper and packaging products Americans use every day. The U.S. forest products industry employs more than 925,000 people, largely in rural America, and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 44 states. Our industry accounts for approximately 4.7% of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP, manufacturing more than $435 billion in products annually. AF&PA member companies are significant producers and users of renewable biomass energy and are committed to making sustainable products for a sustainable future through the industry’s decades-long initiative — Better Practices, Better Planet 2030. 

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