The Pulp & Paper Products Council has reported year-to-date (through September) North American coated mechanical paper shipments declined by -3.6%. Demand fell -4.1% and imports were down -4.6%. The operating rate was 94% y-t-d and 103% for the month of September. Coated woodfree shipments decreased -4.3%, demand fell -6.2% and imports were down -12.8%. The operating rate was 88% y-t-d and 96% in September.
North American SC-A/SC-A+ year-to-date paper shipments declined -26.2%, demand decreased -26.5% and imports fell -21.9%. The operating rate for Supercalendered papers (SC-A and SC-B grades) was 95% y-t-d and 93% in September.
