US Packaging Paper Shipments Rise 2% as Printing-Writing Demand Weakens

Paper Recycling  |  2026-10-22 05:48:11   |   By

Bleached food-wrapping paper shipments increased 1.9% from September 2025. Year-to-date shipments were up by 3.3%.

Summary
  • Printing-writing paper shipments decline
    U.S. printing-writing paper shipments fell 9% in September 2026 compared with the previous year, although purchases rose 6% in August. Inventories decreased 6% from August levels.
  • Packaging paper shipments show growth
    Total packaging and specialty packaging paper shipments increased 2% year-on-year in September. Shipments during the first nine months of 2026 rose 4%, while the unbleached packaging paper operating rate reached 90.9%.
  • Paper imports continue to expand
    U.S. paper imports increased nearly 10% during the first nine months of 2026. Imports of unbleached bag, sack and multiwall papers surged 24.2%, with shipments from Canada rising nearly 30%.

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) has reported mixed performance across the US paper industry in September 2026. Packaging paper shipments increased, while printing-writing paper deliveries declined year-on-year.

According to AF&PA’s September Printing-Writing Monthly Report, total shipments of printing-writing papers fell 9% compared with September 2025. However, US purchases of these grades rose 6% in August from a year earlier. The U.S. printing-writing paper inventories declined 6% from August 2026 levels.

Combined exports of uncoated free sheet, coated free sheet and mechanical papers declined 14% in August year-on-year. Uncoated free sheet exports dropped 17%, while mechanical paper exports fell 20%. In contrast, coated free sheet net exports increased 11%.

Meanwhile, the association’s September Packaging Papers Monthly Report said that total packaging and specialty packaging paper shipments climbed 2% year-on-year. Shipments for the first nine months of 2026 were 4% higher than in the corresponding 2025 period.

The operating rate for unbleached packaging paper reached 90.9% in September, marking the second-highest level recorded so far this year and the third month in 2026 above the 90% threshold.

Bleached food-wrapping paper shipments increased 1.9% from September 2025. Year-to-date shipments were up by 3.3%.

Imports also continued to expand, rising nearly 10% during the first nine months of 2026. Imports of unbleached bag, sack and multiwall papers surged 24.2%, with shipments from Canada increasing nearly 30%. Imports from other destinations declined 3.4%, according to AF&PA data.