Mar 05, 2005. /Lesprom Network/. The Pulp and Paper Products Council announced that newsprint consumption in the U.S. fell 4.6% in January, with daily newspapers consuming 3.1% less newsprint. It is worth noting that there was an additional Sunday in January 2005. By the end of the month, inventory held by US dailies increased by 46 000 tonnes to stand at 939 000 tonnes.

In January, North American newsprint mills ran at 95% of their capacity and produced 4.7% less paper than the same month last year. Total shipments contracted by 5.3%, with sales to the U.S. dropping close to 9%, whereas deliveries to Canada were up by 2.2%. Sales to overseas markets climbed 6.2% year-over-year. With the decline in total deliveries larger than the decrease in production, North American mill inventories rose by 36 000 tonnes to close at 364 000 tonnes at the end of January.

North American Newsprint Statistics

(000s tones)

 

 

January

Year to date

2005

2004

Change

2005

2004

Change

NORTH AMERICA

 

 

 

 

 

 

Production

1 116

1 171

-4.7%

1 116

1 171

-4.7%

Operating Rate

95%

94%

 

95%

94%

 

Total Shipments

1 080

1 140

-5.3%

1 080

1 140

-5.3%

To Canada

85

83

2.2%

85

83

2.2%

To United States

790

864

-8.6%

790

864

-8.6%

To Other Markets

205

193

6.2%

205

193

6.2%

CANADA

 

 

 

 

 

 

Production

672

714

-5.8%

672

714

-5.8%

Operating Rate

95%

94%

 

95%

94%

 

Total Shipments

637

676

-5.7%

637

676

-5.7%

To Canada

82

81

1.6%

82

81

1.6%

To United States

394

450

-12.5%

394

450

-12.5%

To Other Markets

162

145

11.3%

162

145

11.3%

UNITED STATES

 

 

 

 

 

 

Production

443

457

-3.0%

443

457

-3.0%

Operating Rate

95%

94%

 

95%

94%

 

Total Shipments

442

464

-4.7%

442

464

-4.7%

To Canada

3

2

27.4%

3

2

27.4%

To United States

396

414

-4.3%

396

414

-4.3%

To Other Markets

44

48

-9.1%

44

48

-9.1%

US CONSUMPTION

 

 

 

 

 

 

All Consumers

777

815

-4.6%

777

815

-4.6%

Daily Newspapers

645

666

-3.1%

645

666

-3.1%

 

January

2005

December

2004

November

2004

January

2004

Change From Month Ago

Change From Year Ago

INVENTORIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

North American Producers

364

329

334

334

36

31

All US Consumers

1 039

1 010

1 010

1 051

29

-12

US Daily Newspapers

939

893

888

939

46

0

DAYS SUPPLY

 

 

 

 

 

 

All US Consumers

40

40

39

39

0

1

US Daily Newspapers

44

43

42

43

1

1