AF&PA Published Printing-Writing and Packaging Papers Monthly Reports

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) released its July 2025 Packaging Papers Monthly Report.

The overall shipments of packaging sheets and specialty packaging increased by nearly 5% during the month in comparison to the same period last year. The unbleached operational rate increased to 86.3% year over year. Over the previous 15 months, this is the second-highest level.

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According to AF&PA, shipments of bleached food packaging increased 15% in July this year compared to the same month last year. The data indicates that shipments have increased by 9.6% so far this year.

According to the AF&PA study, global writing and printing paper exports fell 8% in July 2025 when compared to the same month the year before. Inventory levels of printing and writing paper increased by 2% for the third consecutive month when compared to the previous month.

Both month-over-month and year-over-year, the United States' exports of mechanical (MECH), coated free sheet (CFS), and uncoated free sheet (UFS) paper performed poorly during the month. While CFS shipments decreased by 3% month over month, UFS shipments saw an 8% month-on-month dip. In the meantime, MECH shipments have not increased during the course of the year.