A Paper Trail Across the Ocean

A look at U.S. Department of Commerce statistics demonstrates just how important the scrap paper and finished paper business is to the U.S. export economy.

In 2001, America Chung Nam Inc. (ACN), Pomona, Calif., ranked as the number one shipper of exported products via ocean-going containers (known in the industry as TEUs—or twenty-foot equivalent units). ACN filled more than 150,000 TEUs with scrap paper bound for China and other Asian destinations last year.

Other paper or forest products companies appearing in the top 20 of international container shipping last year were:

Weyerhaeuser Co., Federal Way, Wash., with 97,000 TEUs

International Paper Co., Stamford, Conn., with 70,000 TEUs

MeadWestvaco, Stamford, Conn., 58,000 TEUs

Potential Industries Inc., Wilmington, Calif., 54,000 TEUs

CellMark Pulp & Paper Inc., Corte Madera, Calif., 48,000 TEUs

Georgia-Pacific Group, Atlanta, 44,000 TEUs

Buckeye Technologies Inc., Memphis, Tenn., 35,000 TEUs