Total North American newsprint
demand posted a 4.4% reduction in December, according to the Pulp and Paper
Products Council. Demand from the region's largest users of newsprint -- US
daily newspapers - was down 4.0%, while demand by other end users fell 5.7%.
Total demand for the full year
declined only 1.2%, as the dailies' 5.8% demand drop in 2012 was largely offset
by a 20.4% increase in demand from other end users.North American newsprint shipments mirrored total demand, with volumes declining 4.4% in December and 1.0% for 2012 as a whole. Offshore exports declined 14.6% in December and 24.2% in 2012.
Newsprint mill operating rates were 89% in December and 92% for 2012 on a shipments-to-capacity basis, compared with 92% and 93% respectively for comparable periods last year.
