May 26, 2005. /Lesprom Network/. After no growth registered in the first quarter, Western European newsprint demand was marginally positive in April, just enough to bring the 4-month level 0.2% higher than in the same period of last year. The increase is entirely due to imports, as deliveries, both domestic and export, suffered from the strikes in Finland. SC magazine shipments and demand both contracted during April. Monthly deliveries shrank by 1.7% bringing the year-to-date level 1.4% lower or about 20,000 tonnes below last year, while domestic demand lost 1.1% with year-to-date contraction of 3.3%. Coated mechanical, on the other side, continued growing healthily, mainly pushed by the export that once again grew by close to 40%. Also domestic demand showed some positive signs of expansion, with an increase of 2.2% that lead the year-to-date level almost at the same level of the first four months of 2004. Total shipments growth was positive by 9% for the 4-month period reaching a level approximately 250,000 tonnes higher than last year. Demand growth for the other uncoated mechanical qualities remains largely on the level of the previous three months, with an year-to-date increase of 2.6%. Exports of these qualities contracted significantly during the month, but again it should be noticed that Finland represents over 40% of the Western European capacity in this sector.