U.S. P&W Paper Shipments Increase

U.S. printing and writing paper shipments increased 10% in February 2010 compared with February 2009, the fourth consecutive year-ago increase, according to the AF&PA (Washington, D.C., USA), February 2010 Printing-Writing Paper Report. Two of the four major P&W paper grades recorded double-digit growth compared with 2009.

U.S. purchases (shipments + imports – exports) of P&W papers also increased in February, up 5% over year-ago February. Total P&W paper inventory levels decreased 54,900 tons from January 2010, a decrease of 3%. Additional highlights from the report include:

• Uncoated free sheet (UFS) shipments up versus year-ago for third consecutive month
• Coated free sheet (CFS) shipments hit double-digit growth versus year-ago for the third month
• Year-ago shipments of coated mechanical (CM) reached double-digit growth for the fourth consecutive month
• Uncoated mechanical (UM) shipments increased following 28% surge in January.

For more information, contact Michelle Gaskins at AF&PA (202) 463-5162.

TAPPI
http://www.tappi.org/