U.S. P&W Paper Shipments a Mixed Bag

Total U.S. printing and writing (P&W) paper shipments decreased 8% in November 2014 compared with November 2013, with total paper inventories increasing 5% compared with October 2014, as reported by the AF&PA (Washington, D.C., USA) in its recently released November 2014 Printing-Writing Paper Report. By specific grade, P&W paper results for November 2014 were: 

• Uncoated free sheet (UFS) paper shipments in November decreased 14% compared with November 2013. YTD shipments were down 9% in 2014. Imports of UFS increased 27% in October 2014 and were up 23% year-to-date in 2014.
• November 2014 coated freesheet (CFS) decreased 3%. Exports of CFS papers were down 4% for the year compared with the first 10 months of 2013, with imports increasing 17% in October 2014 and 4% for the year.
• Uncoated mechanical (UM) paper shipments decreased 1% in November 2014, following nine consecutive months of year-over-year increases. Year-to-date shipments of UM were up 4% compared with 2013.
• Coated mechanical (CM) shipments in November 2014 decreased 4% relative to November 2013 and were down 4% for the year. Exports of CM grades decreased 9% year-over-year in October 2014, but were up 6% compared with the first 10 months of 2013. Imports were down 18% year-to-date.