According to the American Forest & Paper Association's August 2012 Printing-Writing Paper Report, total printing-writing paper shipments decreased 5 percent in August compared to August 2011. All four major printing-writing grades posted single-digit decreases compared to last August.
U.S. purchases of printing-writing papers also decreased, down 6 percent in August.
Total printing-writing paper inventory levels decreased 5 percent from last month, primarily due to double-digit decreases in mechanical-grade paper inventories.
Additional key findings include:
- Shipments of coated free sheet papers decreased year-over-year, but August shipments reached the highest level since October 2011.
- Shipments of uncoated free sheet papers down year-over-year, the sixth consecutive single-digit year-over-year decrease.
- Uncoated mechanical paper inventories dropped sharply.
- Inventory of coated mechanical papers also dropped and hit the lowest point since December 2007.
