U.S. Packaging Paper Shipments Rise 2% as Printing Paper Falls 9%

U.S. paper markets moved in different directions in September, with packaging and specialty packaging shipments increasing 2% from a year earlier while printing-writing paper shipments declined 9%, according to the American Forest & Paper Association.

MONTREAL (Scrap Monster): The U.S. paper industry delivered mixed results in September 2026, with packaging paper shipments continuing to grow while printing-writing paper volumes weakened, according to the latest monthly reports from the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA).

Total packaging papers and specialty packaging shipments increased 2% compared with September 2025. Through the first nine months of the year, shipments were 4% higher than during the corresponding period in 2025.

Printing-writing paper moved in the opposite direction, with September shipments falling 9% year over year.

Printing-Writing Paper Shipments Fall 9%

Total U.S. printing-writing paper shipments decreased 9% in September compared with the same month last year.

Inventories also moved lower, declining 6% from August 2026.

AF&PA reported that U.S. purchases of printing-writing paper increased 6% in August compared with August 2025. The purchases figure reflects the latest available market data and therefore covers an earlier month than the September shipment figures.

The distinction is important: September domestic shipments weakened even though the most recent available purchasing data showed year-over-year growth in August.

Printing-Writing Exports Decline

Trade data also showed weaker export activity across the major printing-writing categories.

Combined net exports of uncoated free sheet, coated free sheet and mechanical papers declined 14% in August compared with a year earlier.

Uncoated free sheet net exports fell 17%, while mechanical paper net exports declined 20%.

Coated free sheet moved in the opposite direction, with net exports increasing 11%.

Packaging Paper Shipments Continue to Grow

Packaging and specialty packaging paper shipments increased 2% year over year in September.

For the first nine months of 2026, shipments were 4% higher than during the same period last year, extending the segment's year-to-date growth.

The unbleached packaging paper operating rate reached 90.9% in September.

That was the second-highest monthly operating rate recorded so far in 2026 and the third month this year in which the rate exceeded 90%.

Bleached Food-Wrapping Shipments Rise

Bleached food-wrapping paper shipments increased 1.9% from September 2025.

Year-to-date shipments were 3.3% higher through September.

The gains added to the broader strength recorded across packaging paper shipments during the first nine months of the year.

Packaging Paper Imports Increase Nearly 10%

Imports continued to expand during 2026.

Total packaging paper imports were up nearly 10% through the first nine months of the year.

Imports of unbleached bag, sack and multiwall papers increased 24.2%.

Canada accounted for much of that increase, with U.S. imports of those grades from Canada rising by nearly 30% year to date.

Imports from all other destinations declined 3.4%.

Market Read

The September data reinforce the contrasting conditions across the U.S. paper market.

Packaging paper continues to show positive shipment growth and high operating rates, while printing-writing shipments remain under pressure.

The import data add another layer to the packaging market. Domestic shipments are growing, but U.S. buyers are also bringing in more packaging paper, particularly unbleached bag, sack and multiwall material from Canada.

For recyclers and recovered-paper suppliers, the split is worth watching because stronger packaging production can support demand for fiber used in packaging grades, while weaker printing-writing shipments point to a softer market for communication-paper production.