Oct 23, 2013. /Lesprom Network/. US exports of newsprint were up by nearly 8% over the first 7 months of the year. The combination of the further weakened dollar and the increasing demand in Asia and some other emerging markets helps to keep those export volumes growing. This limits to some extent the worsening of the over-supply problem while the domestic demand continues to fall, as FOEX reported. 

The export volumes are quite significant representing about 1/3 of the US production. Still, an increase of less than 100,000 tons (annualized from the 7-month data) in exports does not come anywhere near to fulfil the estimated 0.5 million ton drop in the domestic consumption in 2013 from the 2012 level.

More supply exits are planned (e.g. by Resolute at Baie Comeau) but so far the supply exits in 2013 have been clearly less than those 0.5 million tons. Consequently, the price pressures remain southwards. The 30 lb index retreated by $1.92, or by 0.33%, to $588.30/ton from last week. The 27.7 lb index movement was very similar, coming down by $1.86 /ton, or by 0.30%, to $625.82 /ton.