Printing/writing Paper Shipments Drop In October

摘要

Total printing-writing paper shipments decreased 12.7 percent in October, compared with October 2007 figures, according to the American Forest & Paper Association's October 2008 Printing-Writing Report. October year-ago decline is the largest year-ago decline this year, followed by an 11.2 percent decline in August, said the AF&PA. U.S. purchases of printing-writing papers dropped 14.1 percent in October versus year-ago figures. Total printing-writing paper inventory levels remained essentially flat. Uncoated mechanical (UM) shipments declined for the second consecutive month following eight consecutive months of increases. UM shipments decreased 2.5 percent when compared with October 2007. U.S. purchases of UM are down 8.1 percent when compared with October, 2007. UM inventories decreased 9.7 percent, from September, the lowest inventory level of the year. Uncoated free sheet (UFS) shipments decreased for the tenth consecutive month. UFS shipments fell 10.7 percent compared with October 2007 figures. U.S. purchases of UFS were also down, declining 9-5 percent when compared with October 2007 totals. UFS inventories decreased 0.2 percent, compared with last month's total.