Total U.S. printing and writing (P&W) paper shipments decreased 5% in June compared with June 2013, with total paper inventories flat compared with May, according to the AF&PA (Washington, D.C., USA) 2014 Printing-Writing Paper Report issued this past week. U.S. uncoated free sheet (UFS) paper shipments in June decreased 8% compared with June 2013. YTD shipments are down 8% in 2014. Imports of UFS increased year-over-year for the seventh consecutive month, and were up 19% in 2014 relative to the same five month period in 2013.

June coated free sheet (CFS) paper shipments decreased 1% compared with 2013. YTD shipments of CFS grades are also down 1% and imports through May are down 3%.

Uncoated mechanical (UM) paper shipments increased 7% in June, the fifth consecutive month of year-over-year increases. Year-to-date shipments of UM are up 4% compared with 2013.

Coated mechanical (CM) shipments in June decreased 8% relative to June 2013 and are down 5% for the year. Imports of CM through May were down 12% compared with the same period in 2013 and CM exports increased 25% in May, the first year-over-year increase in the past seven months.