U.S. P&W Paper Shipments Decline 5% in September

Total U.S. printing and writing (P&W) paper shipments decreased 5% in September 2017, compared with September 2016, according to the AF&PA (Washington, DC., USA) September 2017 Printing-Writing Monthly Report published this past week. All four of the major P&W paper grades posted year-over-year shipment declines. U.S. purchases of P&W papers also decreased, down 6% in September. Total P&W paper inventory levels increased one-half of one percent from August. Key data from the AF&PA report include:

September uncoated free sheet (UFS) paper shipments decreased year-over-year following the year-over-year increase in August 2017. Imports of UFS decreased by 18% year-over-year in August – this follows two consecutive decreases of 20% or more. Meanwhile, exports of UFS papers increased 17% year-over-year in August, which follows three consecutive increases of 20% or more.
Operating rate for coated free sheet (CFS) paper producers in September 2017 hit the highest level since September 2016. U.S. imports of CFS papers decreased 9% year-over-year in August, the second consecutive year-over-year decline. Exports of CFS papers increased 6% year-over-year in August, the sixth increase in the past eight months.
Coated mechanical (CM) paper shipments declined year-over-year in September 2017 for the fourth consecutive month. Imports of CM increased in August, up 7% compared with August 2016. Exports of CM also increased, up 28% in August to 35,700 tons – the highest level since November 2016.
Shipments of uncoated mechanical (UM) papers have declined year-over-year in every month when compared with the same month in 2016. Imports of UM decreased 11% year-over-year in August while exports of UM increased 1% year-over-year in August – the fifth year-over-year increase in the first eight months of 2017.