. the favorable impacts of the higher average sales price realizations , higher sales volumes , reduced lack-of-order downtime and strong mill performance were only partially offset by higher input costs for freight , chemicals and energy . u.s . converting operations net sales totaled $ 2.8 billion in 2006 , $ 2.6 billion in 2005 and $ 2.3 bil- lion in 2004 . sales volumes throughout the year in 2006 were above 2005 levels , reflecting solid market demand for boxes and packaging solutions