Pulpwood consumption falls 1% in USA, IP's cost'remarkably stable'

摘要

Full-year US pulpwood consumption by the US paper sector slipped by 1% in 2015 (vs 2014) in what marked the third consecutive year of declining volumes for roundwood and chip suppliers. The 2015 consumption total was an estimated 253 million tons-down 3.5% or 9 million tons from the recent peak in 2012. Near term, US virgin mill wood consumption was expected to fall in the first quarter, which is the seasonally slowest period of the year for paper and board production, contacts said. Pulp, paper, and board markets consume about 80% of all US woodfiber production nationwide, and the remainder is split between biomass, primarily pellet exports, and domestic oriented strand board (OSB) panel producers.