Feb 28, 2011. /Lesprom Network/. Total European shipments of newsprint fell 2.5% (20,000 tonnes) in January year-on-year. Exports were down 5.1% (7,000 tonnes), while shipments to Europe slipped by 2.0% (13,000 tonnes) in the same period. European demand for the newsprint grade contracted by 1.8% (12,000 tonnes) last month, as CEPIPRINT said in a press release received by Lesprom Network. In the SC-magazine paper sector, Total European shipments were 6.0% (19,000 tonnes) lower compared to January last year. The drop in shipments was entirely due to a reduction in domestic shipments, which fell 11.6% (32,000 tonnes) and was prevented from falling any further by a 31% (13,000 tonnes) upswing in exports of SC last month. Coated mechanical reels was the only mechanical paper sector to record positive results across the board in January. Total European shipments were up 3.2% (18,000 tonnes) on the back of a 10.1% (11,000 tonnes) pick-up in exports plus a 1.5% (7,000 tonnes) rise in domestic shipments of the grade. Looking at uncoated mechanical, domestic shipments were up 5.5% (9,000 tonnes) in January compared to the year-earlier period. On the other hand, exports were down 7.6% (3,000 tonnes) over the same period, which balanced out at a gentle 2.7% (5,000 tonnes) rise in Total European shipments. 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.