AF&PA: Packaging Paper Shipments Jump, Printing-Writing Demand Dips in August

Paper Recycling  |  2026-09-23 23:30:58   |   By

U.S. paper markets moved in opposite directions in August 2026, with packaging paper shipments rising 4% year over year while printing-writing paper shipments fell 7%, according to the American Forest & Paper Association.

Summary
  • Packaging Paper Shipments Continue to Grow
    U.S. packaging papers and specialty packaging shipments increased 4% year over year in August, with January-August shipments up 5%. Unbleached bag and sack shipments reached a monthly record of nearly 119,000 short tons.
  • Packaging Operating Rates and Inventories Remain Elevated
    The operating rate for bleached packaging papers reached 91.1%, marking the third time this year it has exceeded 90%. August packaging paper inventories were 1% higher than a year earlier and reached their highest level in 13 months.
  • Printing-Writing Paper Demand Weakens Despite Higher Imports
    Printing-writing paper shipments declined 7% year over year in August, while inventories rose 1% from July. Meanwhile, July net imports of UFS, CFS and mechanical paper increased 26% year over year, led by gains of 38% in UFS and 51% in CFS.

MONTREAL (Scrap Monster): U.S. paper markets moved in sharply different directions in August 2026, with packaging paper shipments posting another year-over-year gain while printing-writing paper shipments continued to weaken, according to the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA).

Total packaging papers and specialty packaging shipments increased 4% from August 2025. Through the first eight months of 2026, shipments were 5% above the corresponding period last year.

SCRAPMONSTER EDGE

The August gap between the two major paper segments reached 11 percentage points. Packaging paper shipments were up 4% year over year, while printing-writing paper shipments were down 7%, underscoring the different demand conditions facing packaging and communication-paper markets.

Packaging Paper Shipments Continue to Grow

Unbleached bag and sack shipments reached a new monthly record of nearly 119,000 short tons. Year-to-date shipments were up 8.4%, AF&PA reported.

The operating rate for bleached packaging papers reached 91.1% during August. It marked the third month this year in which the operating rate exceeded 90%.

Packaging paper inventories also remained elevated. August inventories were 1% higher than a year earlier and reached their highest level in 13 months.

Printing-Writing Paper Shipments Fall 7%

The printing-writing segment moved in the opposite direction. Total U.S. printing-writing paper shipments declined 7% in August compared with the same month of 2025.

Inventories increased 1% from July.

Printing-Writing Paper Imports Rise

Separate U.S. Census Bureau trade data for July showed a modest year-over-year increase in U.S. printing-writing paper purchases.

Combined net imports of uncoated free sheet (UFS), coated free sheet (CFS) and mechanical paper increased 26% from July 2025.

UFS net imports rose 38%, while CFS imports increased 51%. Mechanical paper imports were up 13% year over year, according to data cited by AF&PA.

Market Read

The latest figures point to continued strength in packaging-related paper demand alongside softer printing-writing paper shipments. At the same time, higher printing-writing paper imports and rising inventories indicate that domestic shipment trends alone do not capture the full supply picture.

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