AF&PA: U.S. Printing-Writing Paper Shipments Surged

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) announced publication of May 2021 Packaging Papers & Specialty Packaging Monthly report. 

The total shipments of packaging papers & specialty packaging have increased modestly by 5% compared to May 2020. The operating rate, at 87.6%, was up 7.3% from the year-ago month. The year-to-date shipments too surged higher by 2%. The operating rate during the first five months of the year was stood higher by 5.6%. The mill inventories at the end of May 2021 recorded decline by 2,000 short tons over the prior month, but were up by 3,000 short tons when matched with May last year.

Meantime, the total printing-writing paper shipments increased by 11% in May 2021. The U.S. purchase of total printing-writing papers was up by 6%. The printing-writing paper inventory levels have remained essentially unchanged over the prior month.

The shipments of uncoated free sheet (UFS) paper witnessed 22% year-on-year surge. The coated mechanical (CM) paper shipments decreased 14% compared to May last year. The UFS and CM inventory levels witnessed 2% rise and 14% decline respectively, compared to April 2021.

The U.S. purchases of coated free sheet papers declined by 16%, whereas those of uncoated mechanical papers surged by the same percentage in May this year, compared to May 2020.

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