Printing-Writing Paper Shipments Down Four Percent in October

WASHINGTON, DC—Nov. 21, 2011—According to the American Forest & Paper Association’s “October 2011 Printing-Writing Paper Report,” total printing-writing paper shipments decreased 4 percent compared to October 2010. All four major printing-writing grades posted decreases compared to last October.

U.S. purchases (shipments + imports – exports) of printing-writing papers decreased 3 percent in October. Total printing-writing paper inventory levels decreased 5 percent compared to September 2011.

Some points of interest from the report include:

• September exports of uncoated free sheet (UFS) decreased year-over-year.
• Shipments of coated free sheet (CFS) decreased year-over-year for the 11th consecutive month.
• Coated mechanical (CM) purchases increased year-over-year for the second time in 2011.
• Uncoated mechanical (UM) shipments decreased year-over-year for the seventh consecutive month following 15 consecutive months of year-over-year increases.

Source: AF&PA.