Total printing-writing paper shipments down

According to the American Forest & Paper Association’s (AF&PA) September 2009 Printing-Writing Paper Report, total printing-writing paper shipments decreased 11 percent in September compared to September 2008. For the year to date, shipments were down 19 percent – all four major printing-writing grades recorded the lowest year to date decline when compared to 2008 for the third consecutive month. United States purchases (shipments + imports – exports) of printing-writing papers dropped 16 percent in September versus year-ago September and declined 22 percent for the year to date. Total printing- writing paper inventory levels decreased 120,700 tons, or 6 percent, from August.

Additional key findings from the report include:

• Uncoated free sheet shipments at lowest year-ago decline in the past twelve months.
• Coated free sheet shipments climb versus the prior month for the fourth consecutive month.
• Coated mechanical shipments exceed 300,000 tons for the second month.
• Uncoated mechanical shipments hit highest level in past ten months.