Total U.S. Packaging Papers & Specialty Packaging Shipments Decreased 1% in January 2026

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) released the January 2026 Packaging Papers Monthly report. According to the report, total packaging papers & specialty packaging shipments in January decreased 1% compared to January 2025.

The total operating rate for the packaging papers segment was 80.7%, higher than both January 2025 and December 2025, but lower than the overall rate for 2025 (81.2%).

Unbleached multiwall shipments were up 6.9% from last January.

Imports of packaging papers were up nearly 6% in 2025 compared to 2024 based on the latest data available.