Aug 27, 2009. /Lesprom Network/. CEPIPRINT in its July report on European mechanical paper sectors said that European demand in the newsprint sector fell by 11.1%, or 96,000 tonnes, in July compared to July 2008, PaperAge reported. Total European shipments were down 8.3%, or 79,000 tonnes, but newsprint exports recorded a 6.9% (9,000 tonnes) improvement concentrated in the Near East and Turkey in particular. The SC-magazine sector saw European demand fall 6.2%, or 23,000 tonnes. A 39.6% (35,000 tonnes) drop in exports of the grade to all regions showed the sharpest decline in deliveries to the US. In the coated mechanical reel sector, European demand fell 17.2%, or 102,000 tonnes, in July versus July 2008, with the main contractions in Germany and the UK. Total European shipments reduced by 16.9% (119,000 tonnes), which included a 15.2% drop in exports mainly to Australia and came despite an increase in shipments to Japan. Uncoated mechanical grades followed a similar downward trend in July with European demand falling 19.2%, or 36,000 tonnes compared to July 2008. Total European shipments dropped 21.2% with reductions in shipments to all main export markets of the grade.