Canadian Pulp Production Ends Year on an Upswing

The most recent figures from the Pulp and Paper Products Council show Canadian market pulp production at 815,000 metric tons for December, a 9 percent increase from figures the same time in 1998.

The figures for the month brought 1999 market pulp production to 8.87 million metric tons, a 9 percent increase from 1998's total-year figures.

Reflecting the strength in the Canadian pulp industry, the operating rate soared, with last December's rate at 103 percent of capacity, compared to 1998's figure of 92 percent of capacity. For the full year, the operating rate stands at 95 percent of capacity, compared to 1998's operating rate of 85 percent of capacity.

The shipment of market pulp also strengthened for both the month and full year. For December shipment stand at 846,000 metric tons, an 8 percent increase from 1998's figures. For the full year shipments stand at 9.010 million metric tons, a 9 percent increase from the previous year.

Leading the improvement were shipments to the United States, up 21 percent for the month to 303,000 metric tons. For the full year shipments of Canadian pulp to the United States stands at 3.052 million metric tons, a 5 percent increase from 1998.

The other region that posted a strong improvement between the two years was shipments outside North America, Western Europe and Japan. This region realized a 41 percent increase for December, as well as up 40 percent, to 1.863 million metric tons, the full year.

Other regions and the shipment figures for December and the full year are the following: Canada, down 2 percent for the month and up 8 percent for the year; Western Europe, up 14 percent for the month and unchanged for the year; and Japan, down 8 percent for the month and down 2 percent for the year.

The days of supply on hand also declined. At the end of December days of supply sands at 22 days, compared to the previous month's figure of 23 days, as well as December 1998's 28 days of supply.