May 13, 2005. /Lesprom Network/. Newsprint consumption by U.S. dailies dropped 6.5% in March, bringing the quarterly decline to –5%, according to report by the Pulp and Paper Products Council.. Combined with other users, total U.S. consumption declined 4.6% year-to-date. By the end of the month, inventory held by US dailies declined by 12 000 tonnes to stand at 924 000 tonnes.

 

In March, North American newsprint mills ran at 97% of their capacity and produced 3.7% less paper than the same month last year. Total shipments contracted by 5.2% due to a drop of 7% in sales to the U.S. and 2.3% in deliveries to Canada. Sales to overseas markets stayed at the same level than March 2004. Overall, total shipments declined 5.7% year-to-date. By the end of March, North American mill stocks decreased by 38 000 tonnes to stand at 334 000 tonnes.

 

North American Newsprint Statistics

000s tonnes

 

 

March

Year to date

2005

2004

Change

2005

2004

Change

NORTH AMERICA

 

 

 

 

 

 

Production

1 096

1 139

-3.7%

3 210

3 395

-5.5%

Operating Rate

97%

97%

 

96%

96%

 

Total Shipments

1 134

1 195

-5.2%

3 204

3 398

-5.7%

To Canada

92

94

-2.3%

252

258

-2.3%

To United States

797

857

-7.0%

2 316

2 514

-7.9%

To Other Markets

245

244

0.2%

636

626

1.6%

CANADA

 

 

 

 

 

 

Production

679

703

-3.3%

1 964

2 097

-6.3%

Operating Rate

96%

98%

 

96%

97%

 

Total Shipments

707

748

-5.4%

1 959

2 082

-5.9%

To Canada

89

91

-2.8%

244

251

-2.6%

To United States

416

456

-8.7%

1 192

1 326

-10.1%

To Other Markets

203

201

1.0%

523

506

3.4%

UNITED STATES

 

 

 

 

 

 

Production

417

436

-4.4%

1 246

1 298

-4.0%

Operating Rate

98%

96%

 

96%

95%

 

Total Shipments

426

448

-4.8%

1 245

1 316

-5.4%

To Canada

3

2

16.8%

8

7

9.2%

To United States

381

402

-5.1%

1 124

1 189

-5.4%

To Other Markets

42

44

-3.5%

113

120

-5.8%

US CONSUMPTION

 

 

 

 

 

 

All Consumers

779

823

-5.3%

2 302

2 414

-4.6%

Daily Newspapers

631

675

-6.5%

1 875

1 973

-5.0%

 

Mar

2005

Feb

2005

Jan

2005

Mar

2004

Change From Month Ago

Change From Year Ago

INVENTORIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

North American Producers

334

372

363

299

-38

35

All US Consumers

1 082

1 045

1 038

1 130

37

-48

US Daily Newspapers

924

935

942

983

-12

-60

DAYS SUPPLY

 

 

 

 

 

 

All US Consumers

40

41

40

40

-1

0

US Daily Newspapers

43

45

45

43

-2

0