U.S. P&W Paper Shipments Down 2% from 2009

Total U.S. printing and writing (P&W) paper shipments decreased 2% in November compared with November 2009, according to the AF&PA, Washington, D.C., USA, November 2010 Printing-Writing Paper Report issued this week. Two of the four major P&W grades posted increases compared with last November, while one remained essentially flat. U.S. purchases (shipments + imports – exports) of P&W papers decreased, down 3% in November. Total P&W paper inventory levels increased 3% compared with October 2010.

Some additional key findings include:

• Uncoated free sheet shipments decline year-over-year for the sixth consecutive month
  
• Coated free sheet shipments increase year-over-year for the thirteenth consecutive month
  
• Coated mechanical year-to-date shipments lead 2009 for the eleventh consecutive month while inventories are 22% lower than year end 2009
  
• Uncoated mechanical shipments increased year-over-year for the tenth time in 2010.
  

TAPPI
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