Total printing and writing (P&W) paper shipments by U.S. producers decreased 7% in October compared with October 2013, with total paper inventories decreasing 7% compared with September, according to the AF&PA (Washington, D.C.), October 2014 Printing-Writing Paper Report. Specifics of the report include:

• Uncoated free sheet (UFS) paper shipments in October decreased 12% compared with October 2013. YTD shipments are down 9% in 2014. Imports of UFS increased 17% in September and were up 23% year-to-date in 2014.
• September coated free sheet (CFS) paper shipments decreased 6% compared with 2013. YTD shipments of coated freesheet grades are down 3%. Exports of CFS papers were down 4% for the year compared with the first nine months of 2013, with imports increasing 2% for the same period.
• Uncoated mechanical (UM) paper shipments increased 9% in October, the ninth consecutive month of year-over-year increases. Year-to-date shipments of UM were up 5% compared with 2013.
• Coated mechanical (CM) shipments in October were essentially flat relative to October 2013 and are down 4% for the year. Exports of CM grades increased 12% year-over-year in September and are up 8% compared with the first nine months of 2013.