May 25, 2009. /Lesprom Network/. European newsprint demand declined by 12.1% (109 thousand tonnes) in April year-on-year, taking the year-to-date change in demand to a loss of 15.6% (537 thousand tonnes). Total European shipments of newsprint fell 14.9% (151 thousand tonnes), including a drop in exports of 22.6% (35 thousand tonnes) and a reduction in domestic shipments of 13.5% (116 thousand tonnes), as CEPIPRINT, the Association of European Publication Paper Producers said in a statement received by Lesprom Network. The SC-magazine paper sector suffered similar losses last month, as European demand contracted 10.7% (37 thousand tonnes). Total European shipments of the grade fell 18.8% (81 thousand tonnes) as a result of the drop in domestic delivieres combined with the reduction in exports. Exports of SC-Magazine were cut by more than half in April compared to the year-earlier period, down 54.5% (44 thousand tonnes). Slower market conditions also continued to affect Coated mechanical reels (CMR) with European demand down 29.9% (201 thousand tonnes) for the month of April. Shipments to outside Europe fell 33.1% (41 thousand tonnes) and contributed to the 30.4% (242 thousand tonnes) reduction in total European shipments. Also in April, uncoated mechanical recorded a reduction in demand of 21.6% (47 thousand tonnes) compared to the year earlier period. Exports were almost halved against April 2008, down 47.7% (21 thousand tonnes). The Association of European Publication Paper Producers, CEPIPRINT asbl, is a legally and financially independent association based in Brussels, Belgium. It is a non-profit making organisation funded by its members, who are manufacturers of newsprint and magazine paper grades in Europe. CEPIPRINT membership currently includes 52 companies belonging to 17 independent groups, over 60 paper mills and 165 paper machines in 13 European countries.