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

According to the report, total printing-writing paper shipments increased 2 percent in December compared to December 2012, with increases in uncoated papers more than offsetting decreases in coated grades. Additional key findings:

• Uncoated free sheet (UFS) paper shipments in December increased year-over-year for the fourth time in the last six months, with shipments 4percent ahead of December 2012. For the year, uncoated free sheet shipments were 2 percent below 2012 levels.
   
• December coated free sheet (CFS) papers shipments decreased 4 percentcompared to December 2012, with 2013 shipments down 2 percentrelative to the same twelve months of 2012.
   
• Uncoated mechanical (UM) paper shipments increased 12 percent in December compared to December2012, the fourth consecutive month of year-over-year increases.

• Coated mechanical (CM) shipments of 244,500 tons in December decreased 1percent compared to December 2012 and were down 9 percent for the year in 2013.

The report can be purchased by contacting Caroline Nealon at [email protected] or 202-463-2448.