portunity to take care of the entire region. Over the past six years, Kowlzan said that they PCA has taken a lot of older plants that needed to be recapitalized and tripled and qua- drupled productivity with less costs and labor hours. Kowlzan also reported strong market conditions result- ing in PCA setting a new corrugated shipments-per-day re- cord for the month of June, up 9.2 percent over last year’s second quarter and total shipments. Containerboard pro- duction was 1.2 million tons and containerboard inventory was up 16,000 tons compared to the second quarter of 2023 and up 20,000 tons versus the first quarter of 2024. “We were also able to build some inventory ahead of what we expect to be a busy second half of the year. Packaging segment prices and mix moved higher from first quarter levels as we continue to implement our an- nounced price increases. Results also reflect our constant focus on minimizing inflationary cost increases through efficiency and usage initiatives and capital project bene- fits throughout our mills and converting facilities,” Kowlzan said. “Looking ahead as we move from the second and into the third quarter, prices and mix in both our Packag- ing and Paper segments will move higher as we continue to implement previously announced increases along with higher containerboard export prices,” Kowlzan said. PCA says it is the third largest producer of container- board products in North America. The company operates eight mills and 896 corrugated products plants and relat- ed facilities.
AVERAGE CONTAINERBOARD PRICES The average prices reported are tabulated from prices PAID by various sources throughout the United States the week previous to issue. Prices in some areas of the country may be higher or lower than the tabulated average. The prices tabulated here are intended only for purposes of reference. They do not connote any commitment to sell any material at the indicated average. Transactions may be completed at any time at a price agreed upon by seller and purchaser. REGION 42# Kraft liner 26# Semi-Chem. Medium $ 900.00-925. 00 $ 825. 00 -$850.00 U.S. Average CANADIAN LINERBOARD & MEDIUM The average prices reported are tabulated from prices PAID by various sources throughout Canada. Prices may be higher or lower in various areas of the country. The prices tabulated here are intended only for purposes of reference. They do not connote any commitment to sell any material at the indicated average. Transactions may be completed at any time at a price agreed upon by seller and purchaser. Prices are Canadian $ and per metric ton. 42# Kraft Liner 26# Semi-Chem Medium East $970.00 $960.00 West $1,015.00 $995.00 REGION
PCA To Build (CONT’D FROM PAGE 1)
we both grow profitably and improves the efficiencies and cost within our system.” More specifically, Hassfurther said in the call that they have had to pull from a lot of different plants, most far away in the Los Angeles region, to service the local market. “And that’s not sustainable long term,” Hassfurther said. “So with the opportunities we have and with the custom- ers that we have in that marketplace, they’ve indicated that we need to do significantly different things which we will do. And that will give us some — obviously, some great opportunities in that region.” Kowlzan said that the new plant in Arizona is a big op-
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August 5, 2024
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