Total U.S. printing and writing (P&W) paper shipments decreased 5% in February compared with February 2014, with inventory levels essentially unchanged from January, according to the AF&PA (Washington, D.C., USA) February 2015 Printing-Writing Paper Report released this past week. Other P&W paper data from the report include:

• Uncoated free sheet (UFS) paper shipments in February decreased 7% compared with February 2014. Imports of UFS decreased 10% year-over-year in January, following 14 consecutive monthly increases. 
• February coated free sheet (CFS) paper shipments decreased 1% compared with February 2014. Imports of CFS papers increased 10% in January compared with January 2014, the ninth consecutive year-over-year increase.
• Uncoated mechanical (UM) paper shipments increased 1% in February, the second consecutive monthly increase. Imports of UM papers were down 14% in January.
• Coated mechanical (CM) shipments in February decreased 8% relative to February 2014, with the lowest level of shipments since 1995. Exports of CM increased 16% in January, the first increase in the past four months.