New Report: Dramatic Decrease in Paper Shipments

According to the American Forest & Paper Association's (AF&PA) May 2020 Printing-Writing Monthly report, total printing-writing paper shipments decreased 35% in May compared to May 2019. U.S. purchases of total printing-writing papers decreased 30% in May compared to the same month last year. Total printing-writing paper inventory levels decreased 3% when compared to April 2020.

• Uncoated free sheet (UFS) paper shipments decreased 34% compared to May 2019, while the inventory level decreased 4% compared to April 2020. UFS imports and exports both decreased compared to April 2019, down 28% and 29% respectively.
• U.S. purchases of coated free sheet (CFS) papers in May decreased 31% compared to last May, while the inventory level decreased 2% compared to April 2020. CFS imports and exports both decreased compared to April 2019, down 2% and 25% respectively.
• Coated mechanical (CM) paper shipments decreased 36% compared to May 2019, while the inventory level decreased 3% compared to April 2020. CM imports and exports both decreased compared to April 2019, down 32% and 13% respectively.
• U.S. purchases of uncoated mechanical (UM) papers in May decreased 8% compared to last May while, the inventory level decreased 3% compared to April 2020. UM imports and exports both decreased compared to April 2019, down 27% and 42% respectively.

Source: The American Forest & Paper Association