Printing-Writing Paper Shipments Drop 5.1 Percent

Total printing-writing paper shipments decreased 5.1 percent last month compared to June 2010 according to the American Forest & Paper Association’s “June 2011 Printing-Writing Paper Report.”

All four major printing-writing grades posted declines. U.S. purchases (shipments + imports – exports) of printing-writing papers decreased 6 percent in June 2011 compared to June 2010. Total printing-writing paper inventory levels for the month decreased 4 percent compared to May 2011.

Some points of interest from the report include:

• May exports of uncoated free sheet (UFS) increased year-over-year for the third straight month.
• Inventory of coated free sheet (CFS) decreased for the second time in the last eight months.
• Coated mechanical (CM) inventory month-over-month decreased for the second time this year in June.
• Uncoated mechanical (UM) shipments decreased year-over-year for the third consecutive time in 18 months.