Paper Industry Continues to Struggle

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) reported that U.S. printing and writing paper shipments of 5.4million tons through April were 24.2% lower than a year earlier. AF&PA data shows year-to-date coated mechanical paper shipments at 939,240 tons were 37.2% below 2008. Four-month shipments of coated free sheet at 999,655 tons were 28.7% lower.

Uncoated free sheet volume of 3.003 million tons through April was down 15.6% while uncoated mechanical shipments through four months at 445,678 tons were off 31.5%.