The American Forest & Paper Association has released the 66th Annual Paper Industry Capacity and Fiber Consumption Survey. The report provides detailed data on U.S. paper industry capacity and production compiled by the AF&PA statistics team.
“This year’s survey underscores the scale of the U.S. paper manufacturing industry and the essential role it plays in the economy,” said Heidi Brock, President and CEO. “Even as some grades face market pressure, manufacturers are investing and aligning capacity with demand, maintaining solid operating performance and continuing to compete.”
Though U.S. paper and paperboard production declined 3.7% in 2025, to 66.3 million tons, several sectors showed continued resilience. Containerboard operating rates held firm at 91.9%, while printing-writing operating rates improved to 82.8%, reflecting continued capacity adaptation to demand changes. Packaging paper production increased 1.7%, boxboard production was essentially flat at 12.4 million tons and tissue production remained near 7.8 million tons.
Overall fiber consumption used to make paper and paperboard products in 2025 decreased by 3.5% compared to 2024. Wood pulp decreased by 3.2% and recovered fiber decreased by 4.0%.
“U.S. mills continue to produce the packaging, tissue and other paper products that people and businesses rely on every day,” said Brock. “The data shows an industry that continues to operate at significant scale, adapt to changing market conditions and serve strong demand for fiber-based products.”
Containerboard production fell 4.4% to 36.1 million tons, and containerboard capacity declined 5.1% in 2025. Despite that reduction, containerboard continued to account for more than half of total U.S. paper and paperboard capacity, and mills maintained a 91.9% operating rate.
