WASHINGTON – According to the American Forest & Paper Association's June 2011 Printing-Writing Paper Report, total printing-writing paper shipments decreased 5.1% in June compared to June 2010. All four major printing-writing grades posted decreases compared to last June. U.S. purchases (shipments + imports – exports) of printing-writing papers decreased 6% in June. Total printing-writing paper inventory levels decreased 4% compared to May 2011.
 
Some points of interest from the report include:

• May exports of uncoated free sheet (UFS) increased year-over-year for the third straight month.
• Inventory of coated free sheet (CFS) decreased for the second time in the last eight months.
• Coated mechanical (CM) inventory month-over-month decreased for the second time this year in June.
• Uncoated mechanical (UM) shipments decreased year-over-year for the third consecutive time in 18 months.