WASHINGTON - The American Forest & Paper Association has released its July 2013 Printing-Writing Paper Report. 

According to the report, total printing-writing paper shipments were within 1 percent of the comparable shipments of July 2012, with total inventory levels increasing 3 percent from June.

Additional key findings:

• June coated free sheet (CFS) papers shipments of 322,600 tons brought the year-to-date CFS shipments essentially flat compared to 2012. U.S. imports of CFS papers increased 21 percent year-over-year in June.
• Uncoated free sheet (UFS) paper shipments increased 2 percent year-over-year in July. For the year, shipments are down 3 percent in 2013. Imports of UFS were flat compared to June 2012, with exports of UFS up 10 percent.
• July uncoated mechanical (UM) paper shipments decreased 3 percent when compared to July 2012, with year-over-year imports through June up 6 percent. UM exports are up 11 percent in 2013 compared to the first six months of 2012.
• Coated mechanical (CM) shipments in July decreased 6 percent, the sixth consecutive month of year-over-year decreases. Shipments of CM are down 12 percent for the year, with imports down 3 percent year-over-year in June.

The complete report with detailed tables, charts, and historical data can be purchased by contacting Caroline Nealon at [email protected] or 202-463-2448.