Linerboard imports into China is increasing despite an estimated 2 million metric tons of new local recycled containerboard capacity due to start up in 2002. The linerboard imports for the first eight months of 2002 totaled 1.1 million tons, up 26.6% from the same period last year. The imports have grown due to strong domestic corrugated box cutup and the shutdown of many small, inefficient containerboard machines.