U.S. printing-writing paper shipments decreased 5% in March 2025 compared to March 2024. U.S. purchases of total printing-writing papers decreased 8% in February compared to the same month last year. Total printing-writing paper inventory levels in March decreased 2% when compared to February 2025, according to the American Forest & Paper Association.
Total U.S. shipments across all three major Printing-Writing categories – Uncoated Free Sheet (UFS), Coated Free Sheet (CFS), and Mechanical (MECH) papers – declined on both a month-over-month (MoM) and year-to-date (YTD) basis.
Overall, shipments fell by 5.3% MoM and 7.2% YTD. Breaking it down by category: UFS shipments dropped 7.2% MoM and 8.3% YTD, while CFS declined 5.8% MoM and 8.2% YTD. In contrast, Mechanical papers bucked the trend with a 12.5% increase MoM and a 3.0% gain YTD.
The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) serves to advance public policies that foster economic growth, job creation and global competitiveness for a vital sector that makes the essential paper and packaging products Americans use every day.
