U.S. P&W Paper Shipments Decline in June

Total U.S. printing and writing (P&W) paper shipments decreased 5% in June compared with June 2016, according to the AF&PA (Washington, D.C., USA) June 2017 Printing-Writing Monthly Report released this week. All four P&W grades posted year-over-year shipment declines in June. Total P&W paper inventory levels increased 1% from May 2017. Key by-grade data include:

Shipments of coated free sheet (CFS) papers decreased 3% y/y in June, following the increase last month. U.S. imports of CFS papers increased 25% y/y in May and exports of CFS papers increased 12% y/y in May.
June uncoated free sheet (UFS) paper shipments declined 4% y/y. Imports of UFS decreased by 4% y/y in May while exports of UFS papers increased 23% y/y in May.
Coated mechanical (CM) paper shipments declined 5% y/y in June, the fourth decline in 2017. Imports of CM decreased in May, down 12% compared with May 2016 while exports of CM increased 30% in May.
Shipments of uncoated mechanical (UM) papers decreased 21% y/y in June. Both imports and exports of UM decreased year-over-year in May, down 12% and 46%, respectively.