WASHINGTON -- According to the American Forest & Paper Association''s April 2010 Printing-Writing Paper Report, total printing-writing paper shipments increased 10% in April compared to April 2009 -- the sixth consecutive year-over-year (YOY) increase and the third double-digit YOY increase. Three of the four major printing-writing grades posted double-digit increases compared to last April, while the fourth was down less than one percent. U.S. purchases (shipments + imports - exports) of printing-writing papers also increased in April, up 7% YOY April. Total printing-writing paper inventory levels decreased slightly from March 2010, down 3%.

Some additional key findings include:

• Uncoated free sheet (UFS) shipments ease slightly year-over-year, down less than one percent.
• Coated free sheet (CFS) shipments increase double-digits for fifth consecutive month.
• Year-over-year shipments of coated mechanical (CM) also increase in double-digits for fifth consecutive month.
• Uncoated mechanical (UM) shipments increase for fifth consecutive month.

AF&PA members can access the full report on the AF&PA StatMill web site:
http://www.afandpa.statmill.org/getreports.asp?RepId=227&DateCode=APR2010

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The American Forest & Paper Association is the national trade association of the forest products industry, representing pulp, paper, and wood products manufacturers, and forest landowners. Our companies make essential products from renewable and recyclable resources that sustain the environment. The forest products industry employs one million workers and generates six percent of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP. Visit AF&PA online at www.afandpa.org.

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