Aug 10, 2005. /Lesprom Network/. The Pulp and Paper Products Council announced on Tuesday that newsprint consumption by U.S. dailies declined 4.7% in June, bringing the year-to-date figure to –4.5%. Combined with other users, total U.S. consumption fell 4.4% so far this year. At month end, inventory held by US dailies increased by 7 000 tonnes, to stand at 866 000 tonnes.

In June, North American newsprint mills ran at 94% of their capacity and produced 4.6% less paper than the same month last year. Total shipments declined by 0.5% due to a 4.8% drop in sales to the U.S. Deliveries to Canada fell 2.8% year-over-year. Sales to overseas markets, however, registered an increase in June (+24%). In the first half of the year, total shipments by North American producers decreased 3.7%. By the end of June, North American mill stocks fell by 66 000 tonnes, to stand at 289 000 tonnes.

 

North American Newsprint Statistics

000s tonnes

 

 

June

Year-to-date

2005

2004

Change %

2005

2004

Change %

NORTH AMERICA

 

 

 

 

 

 

Production

1 015

1 064

-4.6

6 371

6 680

-4.6

Operating Rate

94%

95%

 

95%

96%

 

Total Shipments

1 081

1 075

0.5

6 411

6 657

-3.7

To Canada

94

97

-2.8

533

542

-1.7

To United States

751

789

-4.8

4 569

4 911

-7.0

To Other Markets

236

190

24.4

1 309

1204

8.7

CANADA

 

 

 

 

 

 

Production

622

656

-5.1

3 906

4 112

-5.0

Operating Rate

92%

95%

 

95%

97%

 

Total Shipments

657

656

0.2

3 939

4 075

3.3

To Canada

90

95

-4.5

516

529

-2.4

To United States

384

406

-5.3

2 379

2 572

-7.5

To Other Markets

183

156

17.2

1 044

975

7.1

UNITED STATES

 

 

 

 

 

 

Production

393

408

-3.7

2 465

2 567

-4.0

Operating Rate

96%

95%

 

96%

95%

 

Total Shipments

423

419

1.0

2 472

2 582

-4.3

To Canada

3

2

78.0

17

14

24.1

To United States

367

383

-4.3

2 190

2 339

-6.4

To Other Markets

53

34

57.2

266

230

15.7

US CONSUMPTION

 

 

 

 

 

 

All Consumers

774

805

-3.9

4 702

4 919

-4.4

Daily Newspapers

618

648

-4.7

3 807

3 986

-4.5

 

June

2005

May

2005

April

2005

June

2004

Change From Month Ago

Change From Year Ago

INVENTORIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

North American Producers

289

354

343

319

-66

-30

All US Consumers

988

993

1 003

2 082

-5

-94

US Daily Newspapers

866

859

894

931

7

-65

DAYS SUPPLY

 

 

 

 

 

 

All US Consumers

39

39

39

41

0

-2

US Daily Newspapers

43

42

44

44

1

-1