Printing-Writing Paper Shipments Continue to Decline

WASHINGTON, DC—Oct. 20, 2011—According to the American Forest & Paper Association’s “September 2011 Printing-Writing Paper Report,” total printing-writing paper shipments decreased 8 percent in September compared to September 2010. All four major printing-writing grades posted decreases compared to last September.

U.S. purchases (shipments + imports – exports) decreased 7 percent in September, and total printing-writing paper inventory levels decreased 2 percent compared to August 2011.

Other points of interest from the report include:

• August exports of uncoated free sheet (UFS) increased year-over-year for the sixth straight month.
• Shipments of coated free sheet (CFS) decreased year-over-year for the 10th consecutive month.
• Coated mechanical (CM) purchases decreased year-over-year for the sixth consecutive month.
• Uncoated mechanical (UM) shipments decreased year-over-year for the sixth consecutive month, following 15 consecutive months of year-over-year increases.

Source: AF&PA.