Newsprint Figures Post Steep Drop for July

Production and shipment of finished newsprint posted a steep drop for July. According to the Pulp and Paper Products Council, North American production declined by more than 14 percent for the month to 1.194 million metric tons. For the first seven months the production figure stands at 8.627 million metric tons, a 7 percent drop from figures the same time last year.

Production at Canadian mills posted a 13.3 percent drop between the two years, with this July’s figure standing at 686,000 metric tons. For the first seven months production stands at 5.071 million metric tons, a 5.7 percent drop from production the same time last year.

U.S. newsprint producers posted an even sharper decline for both the month and first seven months. For July production stands at 508,000 metric tons, a 15.1 percent drop from last year. For the first seven months production stands at 3.557 million metric tons, an 8.9 percent drop between the two years.

Reflecting the slump in North American newsprint production, the operating rate at North American mills stands at 86 percent of capacity for the month, compared to last July’s operating rate of 98 percent for capacity. For the first seven months the operating rate stands at 92 percent off capacity, compared to last year’s operating rate of 97 percent of capacity.

Shipments also plummeted for both the month and year to date. For July shipments stand at 1.162 million metric tons, a 15.2 percent drop from last July. For the first seven months newsprint shipments stand at 8.506 million metric tons, an 8.4 percent drop from last year.