U.S. P&W Paper Shipments Continue Steady Growth

Total U.S. printing and writing (P&W) paper shipments increased 1% in July compared with July 2009, according to AF&PA’s July 2010 Printing-Writing Paper Report released this week. Three of the four major P&W grades posted increases compared with last July. U.S. purchases (shipments + imports – exports) of P&W papers declined 1% in July. Total P&W paper inventory levels increased 3% from June 2010. Some additional key findings include:

• Uncoated free sheet year-to-date shipments increased versus the same seven months of 2009, the seventh consecutive month where 2010 y-t-d exceeded 2009 y-t-d
• Coated free sheet shipments increased y/y for the ninth consecutive month
• Coated mechanical shipments surged for ninth double-digit growth versus year-ago
• Uncoated mechanical shipments increased y/y for the seventh consecutive month.

TAPPI
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