AF&PA: paper shipments in December down 7 per cent from 2010

According to the American Forest & Paper Association’s December 2011 Printing-Writing Paper Report, total printing-writing paper shipments decreased 7% in December compared to December 2010. All four major printing-writing grades posted decreases compared to last December. U.S. purchases (shipments + imports - exports) of printing-writing papers decreased 5% in December. Total printing-writing paper inventory levels increased 6% compared to November 2011.

Some points of interest from the report include:

• Exports of uncoated free sheet (UFS) increased year-over-year for the fourth time in the past six months.

• Shipments of coated free sheet (CFS) decreased year-over-year for the thirteenth consecutive month, following thirteen consecutive months of year-over-year increases.

• Coated mechanical (CM) shipments decreased for the ninth consecutive month.

• Uncoated mechanical (UM) shipments decreased year-over-year for the ninth consecutive month, following 15 consecutive months of year-over-year increases