U.S. P&W Paper Shipments up 12% over 2009

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Total U.S. printing and writing (P&W) paper shipments increased 12% in March compared with March 2009, the fifth consecutive year-ago increase and the second double-digit year-ago increase, according to the AF&PA's March 2010 Printing-Writing Paper Report released this week. All four of the major P&W grades posted increases compared with last March, and three recorded double-digit growth compared with 2009.

 U.S. purchases (shipments + imports – exports) of P&W papers also increased in March, up 8% versus year-ago March. Total P&W paper inventory levels decreased slightly from February, down 1%. Some additional key findings include:

• Uncoated free sheet (UFS) shipments up versus year-ago for fourth consecutive month.
• Coated free sheet (CFS) shipment surge for fourth double-digit growth versus year-ago
• Year-ago shipments of coated mechanical (CM) "thumbs nose" at CFS shipments with bigger surge and fifth consecutive double-digit year-ago increase
• Increase of uncoated mechanical (UM) shipments passes 20% for second time in past three months.