Packaging, printing-writing paper shipments decrease again

According to the AF&PA, this is the third straight monthly decline for printing and writing papers and the second for packaging papers.

stack of loose packaging and printing papers
According to the AF&PA, this is the third straight monthly decline for printing and writing papers and the second for packaging papers.
© Klyuchinskiy Oleg | stock.adobe.com

The Washington-based American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) has released its May 2025 monthly packaging papers and printing and writing papers reports, revealing declines in shipments for both grades.

According to the AF&PA, total packaging papers and specialty packaging shipments decreased 7 percent this May compared with May 2024 and are down 4 percent compared with the same five months last year.

It is the second consecutive decline in packaging papers and specialty packaging shipments. In the April report, AF&PA revealed a 3 percent decrease compared with April 2024 as well as a 3 percent decrease compared with the same four months of 2024.

The operating rate for bleached packaging papers was 73.1 percent, up 1.6 points from last May and essentially flat year over year.

RELATED: AF&PA reports paper production boost, capacity decline

Shipments of what the AF&PA says is the biggest subgrade in unbleached packaging papers, bag and sack, were 97,5000 short tons this May, down 11.1 percent from May 2024 and down nearly 10 percent year to date.

Meanwhile, printing and writing paper shipments posted a third consecutive monthly decrease in shipments.

According to the report, total printing and writing paper shipments decreased 5 percent this May compared with May 2024. In April, printing and writing paper shipments were down 7.6 percent compared with April 2024.

The report also reveals a 5 percent decrease in total U.S. purchases of printing and writing papers in April, while total printing and writing paper inventory levels increased 2 percent month over month.

As in previous months, the three major printing and writing categories—uncoated freesheet (UFS), coated freesheet (CFS) and mechanical papers—showed mixed performance on a monthly and yearly basis.

Shipments of UFS and CFS decreased this May compared with last May, while mechanical papers posted monthly and yearly increases.

Get curated news on YOUR industry.

Enter your email to receive our newsletters.

Loading...