U.S. printing-writing shipments in August down 6.4% year-over-year with decreases in all four major grades, purchases down 10%; inventory levels down 4% month-over-month: AF&PA

Kendall Sinclair

WASHINGTON , September 21, 2011 (press release) – According to the American Forest & Paper Association’s August 2011 Printing-Writing Paper Report, total printing-writing paper shipments decreased 6.4% in August compared to August 2010. All four major printing-writing grades posted decreases compared to last August. U.S. purchases (shipments + imports – exports) of printing-writing papers decreased 10% in August. Total printing-writing paper inventory levels decreased 4% compared to July 2011.

Some points of interest from the report include:

July exports of uncoated free sheet (UFS) increased year-over-year for the fifth straight month.
Shipments of coated free sheet (CFS) decreased year-over-year for the ninth consecutive month.
Coated mechanical (CM) purchases decreased year-over-year for the fifth consecutive month.
Uncoated mechanical (UM) shipments decreased year-over-year for the fifth consecutive month following 15 consecutive months of year-over-year increases.

AF&PA members can access the full report on the AF&PA StatMill web site:
http://www.afandpa.statmill.org/getreports.asp?RepId=227&DateCode=AUG2011

The American Forest & Paper Association is the national trade association of the forest products industry, representing pulp, paper, and wood products manufacturers, and forest landowners. Our companies make essential products from renewable and recyclable resources that sustain the environment. The forest products industry employs one million workers and generates six percent of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP. Visit AF&PA online at www.afandpa.org.

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