Jul 11, 2005. /Lesprom Network/.  The Pulp and Paper Products Council announced that newsprint consumption by U.S. dailies declined 4.8% in May, bringing the year-to-date figure to –4.4%. Combined with other users, total U.S. consumption fell 4.5% so far this year.

 

At month end, inventory held by US dailies declined by 36 000 tonnes, to stand at 858 000 tonnes.

 

In May, North American newsprint mills ran at 95% of their capacity and produced 1.8% less paper than the same month last year. Total shipments shrank by 1.4% due to a 2.8% drop in sales to the U.S., whereas deliveries to Canada remained unchanged from last year.

 

Sales to overseas markets, however, registered an increase of 3.1% in May. After five months, total shipments by North American producers decreased 4.5%. By the end of May, North American mill stocks rose by 11 000 tonnes, to stand at 354 000 tonnes.

 

North American Newsprint Statistics

000s tonnes

 

 

May

Year-to-date

2005

2004

Change

2005

2004

Change

NORTH AMERICA

 

 

 

 

 

 

Production

1 070

1 090

-1.8%

5 356

5 616

-4.6%

Operating rate

95%

96%

 

95%

96%

 

Total shipments

1 059

1 074

-1.4%

5330

5582

-4.5%

To Canada

95

94

1.2%

439

446

-1.5%

To United States

758

780

-2.8%

3818

4 122

-7.4

To other markets

206

200

3.1

1 074

1015

5.8%

CANADA

 

 

 

 

 

 

Production

664

667

-0.5%

3284

3457

-5.0%

Operating rate

94%

96%

 

95%

97%

 

Total shipments

662

665

-0.5%

3281

3 419

-4.0%

To Canada

92

92

0.7%

426

434

-1.9%

To United States

413

409

0.9%

1 995

2166

-7.9%

To other markets

156

163

-4.4%

861

819

5.2%

UNITED STATES

 

 

 

 

 

 

Production

407

424

-4.0%

2 072

2 159

-4.0

Operating rate

96%

96%

 

96%

95%

 

Total shipments

397

409

-2.9%

2 049

2 163

-5.3

To Canada

3

2

20.1%

13

12

15.0%

To United States

345

370

-6.9%

1 823

1 956

-6.8%

To other markets

50

37

36.6%

213

196

8.6%

US CONSUMPTION

 

 

 

 

 

 

All consumers

794

828

-4.1%

3 930

4114

-4.5%

Daily newspapers

632

664

-4.8%

3 190

3 338

-4.4%

 

May

2005

Аpril

2005

March

2005

May

2004

Change From Month Ago

Change From Year Ago

INVENTORIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

North American producers

354

343

335

330

11

25

All US consumers

985

1 004

1085

1 077

 -20

-92

US daily newspapers

858

894

923

928

-36

-71

DAYS SUPPLY

 

 

 

 

 

 

All US consumers

38

39

39

40

-1

-2

US daily newspapers

41

43

42

43

-2

-2