North American Coated Shipments Up

As reported by the Pulp & Paper Products Council, North American May shipments of coated mechanical paper rose 3.4% as compared to the same month last year. Demand jumped 5.4% and imports increased 19.3%. The operating rate was 88%. Coated woodfree May shipments rose 3.7%, demand grew 2.3% and imports were up 6.3%. The operating rate was 88%. Supercalendered paper shipments fell -22.4% in May, demand declined by -23.3% and imports decreased -23.7%. The operating rate was 92%.