Total containerboard inventories (includes both mills and box plants) slid 0.9 percent last September, the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) reports. Specifically, they went from 2,393,900 tons at the end of August to 2,371,800 tons at the end of September. Weeks of supply during this period fell from 4.1 to 3.5.

Breaking down the numbers further, linerboard inventories at mills fell 2.4 percent (206,400 tons to 201,500 tons) but medium inventories rose 7.4 percent (62,300 tons to 66,800 tons). Total containerboard inventories at mills slipped 0.2 percent. Containerboard inventories at box plants fell 1 percent during this period.

Finally, recovered paper stock inventory rose 2.5 percent, from 907,700 tons at the end of August to 929,800 tons at the end of September. This isn’t surprising when you realize that the fall is a very high production month for board mills.