US printing and writing paper shipments fall 7% in August as imports surge

US shipments of printing and writing paper fell 7% year-on-year in August 2026, the fourth straight monthly decline, the American Forest & Paper Association reported. Underlying demand has held up better, with US purchases of the paper rising slightly in July even as net imports of the three main grades jumped 26% year-on-year that month. Domestic capacity fell 13.9% during 2025 to 7.7 million tons, pushing the industry's operating rate up to 82.8%.

Why this mattersA widening gap between resilient US demand and shrinking domestic capacity signals growing reliance on imports for printing and writing paper.

• US printing and writing paper shipments fell 7% year-on-year in August 2026, per AF&PA.
• Shipments had already fallen 9% in July, 8% in June and 14% in May 2026.
• US purchases of printing and writing papers rose slightly in July 2026 despite the shipment declines.
• Net imports of the three major grades rose 26% year-on-year in July 2026; uncoated freesheet up 38%, coated freesheet up 51%, mechanical paper up 13%.
• US domestic printing and writing paper capacity fell 13.9% in 2025 to 7.7 million tons, after a 6.9% decline in 2024, down from almost 18 million tons in 2015.
• The industry's operating rate rose from 76.8% in 2024 to 82.8% in 2025 as capacity was cut; Pixelle Specialty Solutions ceased production at its Chillicothe, Ohio mill in August 2025.

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