P&W Papers
According
to the AF&PA report, total printing-writing paper shipments decreased 5 percent in
August compared to August 2011. All four major printing-writing grades
posted single-digit decreases compared to last August. U.S. purchases of
printing-writing papers also decreased, down 6 percent in August. Total
printing-writing paper inventory levels decreased 5 percent from last month,
primarily due to double-digit decreases in mechanical-grade paper
inventories. Additional key findings include:
Shipments of coated free sheet papers decreased
year-over-year, but August shipments reached the highest level since
October 2011. Shipments of uncoated free sheet papers down
year-over-year, the sixth consecutive single-digit year-over-year
decrease .Uncoated mechanical paper inventories dropped sharply. Inventory of coated mechanical papers also dropped and
hit the lowest point since December 2007.
Recovered Fiber
According
to the AF&PA report, total U.S. industry consumption of recovered paper in August was
2.56 million tons, 6 percent higher than July 2012. Year-to-date total
consumption in 2012 is 4 percent lower than during the same period last year.
U.S.
exports of recovered paper, as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau, increased 5
percent in July compared to June, led by a 14 percent increase in Mixed Papers
exports. Year-to-date exports of recovered paper in 2012 are 6 percent lower
than during the same period in 2011.
Kraft Paper
Total
Kraft paper shipments were 133,000 tons, a decrease of 3.6 percent compared to
the prior month. Total inventory was 77,800 tons this month. Both unbleached
and bleached Kraft shipments decreased year over year.
