Paper Stock Exports Steady

The export of recovered fiber totaled close to 725,000 tons for November, a 1- percent increase from figures the same time in 1998. The figures helped push the year-to-date export total to close to 8.2 million tons.

While exports were up slightly, the largest importer of recovered fiber from the United States, Canada posted a sharp decline for the month. November exports of recovered fiber to Canada stands at 211,644 tons, pushing the annual rate, year to date, to 2.276 million tons, a 6.8 percent decline from figures the same time in 1998.

The drop this year follows strong growth through 1998 and the latter part of the 1990's, when exports to Canada posted sharp increases.

The overall improvement in exports points to stronger exports to the Pacific Rim, which has begun purchasing more recovered fiber as their economies start to improve.