Total U.S. printing and writing (P&W) paper shipments decreased 7% in May compared with May 2013, with total paper inventories increasing 2% from April levels, according to the AF&PA (Washington, D.C., USA) May 2014 Printing-Writing Paper Report released this past week. Uncoated free sheet (UFS) paper shipments in May decreased 10% compared with May 2013. YTD shipments are down 8% in 2014. Year-to-date UFS imports through April are up 19% compared with the same period in 2013.

 

May coated free sheet (CFS) paper shipments decreased 6% compared with the first five months of 2013. YTD shipments of coated freesheet grades are essentially down 1% and imports through April are down 4%.

 

Uncoated mechanical (UM) paper shipments increased 8% in May, the fourth consecutive month of year-over-year increases. Year-to-date shipments of UM are up 3% compared with 2013.

Coated mechanical (CM) shipments in May decreased 7% relative to May 2013, the second year-over-year decrease in the past three months. Imports of CM through April were down 12% relative to the same four month period in 2013.