Fiber-based packaging hit hardest by new UK pEPR base fee

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) released its Q1 2024 Containerboard Quarterly report. According to the report, total containerboard production in Q1 increased 7% compared to Q1 2023. U.S. operating rates for all major grades of conatainerboard in Q1 2024, except Semichemical Medium, increased compared to Q4 2023 while total production was down 0.7% (Q1 had 1 less day than Q4). Unbleached Kraft Liner production for export surged more than 41% over its year-ago levels. The Q1 2024 export total was higher than any quarter in 2023. Despite the significant increase in exports, domestic new supply was up 3.7% from Q1 2023 due to the increase in domestic production, as well as a 12.6% increase in imports of containerboard. New supply declined slightly from Q4. Mill inventories ended the quarter at 429,400 short tons, lower than at the end of 2023, but higher than any other month last year.

Dotdash Meredith posted a 15% decline in Q2 2023 revenue YoY to $414 million. But a $17.8 million operating loss reflected a 35% improvement over the prior year. Digital revenue fell by 10% YoY to $212 million. Print declined by 21% to $206.8 million, driven by a circulation falloffs for some publications. “Stability in traffic helped, as did passing the toughest of last year’s advertising comparables,” says Joey Levin, CEO of parent IAC. Levin continues, “While we can’t count on any aggregate recovery in the ad market, we do expect Dotdash Meredith to benefit from D/Cipher adoption, Performance Marketing strength, and more ad performance optimization on the former Meredith sites.”

A longstanding apparel retailer is set to undergo a change at chief executive.  L.L.Bean Inc. has announced that president and CEO Stephen Smith will depart from the company in the spring of…