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Coated Free Sheet remains weaker than LWC. U.S. list prices in November remained essentially flat m/m with No. 3 60-lb rolls in the $905-$930/ton range, and No. 3 50-lb rolls in the $960-$1,000/ton range, according to Wilde. Both domestic and offshore producers, Wilde adds, are trying to raise CFS prices in the U.S. market on the back of improved order books from the seasonally strong printing season and higher operating rate (99% in September). However, it appears that prices in this grade are the "softest" among all of the P&W grades and may be giving back some recent gain, he notes. October preliminary shipment data show signs of improvement (+4.2% m/m, -7.0% y/y, and YTD -22.5% y/y). Inventories fell 11.2% m/m in September. Producers have taken extensive downtime (336,000 tons since the third quarter of 2008) to keep inventories under control.
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