Total U.S. printing and writing (P&W) paper shipments decreased 4% in September compared with September 2013, according to the AF&PA (Washington, D.C., USA) September 2014 Printing-Writing Paper Report released this week. Total paper inventories decreased 6% compared with August. Other figures for the month include:

• Uncoated free sheet (UFS) paper shipments in September decreased 6% compared with September 2013. YTD shipments are down 9% in 2014. Imports of UFS increased 34% in August and were up 24% in 2014, the tenth consecutive monthly increase.
• September coated free sheet (CFS) paper shipments decreased 6% compared with 2013. YTD shipments of coated freesheet grades are down 2%. Exports of CFS papers decreased 13% in August and are down 4% for the year compared with the first eight months of 2013.
• Uncoated mechanical (UM) paper shipments increased 5% in September, the eighth consecutive month of year-over-year increases. Year-to-date shipments of UM are up 5% compared with 2013.
• Coated mechanical (CM) shipments in September decreased 1% relative to September 2013 and are down 5% for the year. Exports of CM grades increased 26% year-over-year in July and are up 8% compared with the first eight months of 2013.