U.S. printing-writing paper shipments decreased 8% in November 2025 compared to the same month last year, according to the American Forest & Paper Association.
Despite the decline in shipments, the year-to-date average operating rate is nearly 4 percentage points higher than in 2024, while total inventory levels dropped 5% from October 2025.
Purchases across the three major categories also fell in the latest available trade data from September 2025. Total purchases declined 12% compared to September 2024. Individually, mechanical paper purchases decreased 15%, while uncoated free sheet and coated free sheet purchases fell 11% and 12%, respectively.
