Uncoated Freesheet Market Balanced as Imports Ease and Demand Drop Slows

摘要

Uncoated freesheet markets will likely continue to face challenges as the long term expectation is that demand will continue to contract in developed markets such as the U.S. However, the outlook for 2016 and into next year is reasonably positive as the market is largely in balance. A slowing of imports has certainly been a key factor in particular from a U.S. producer's viewpoint since it allowed U.S. shipments to pick up some slack. In addition, however, there was a very surprising development as U.S. demand for uncoated freesheet actually stabilized a bit last year, which is almost shocking in light of the demand trend line all graphic grades have exhibited for several years. Demand last year, instead of following the steady trend of a 3-5% annual drop, remained more level with 2014 demand levels.