Total U.S. Printing-Writing Paper Shipments Decreased 5% in March 2025

Total printing-writing paper inventory levels decreased 2% in March 2025 when compared to February 2025.

April 18, 2025 - The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) released the March 2025 Printing-Writing Monthly report. According to the report, total printing-writing paper shipments decreased 5% in March 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.

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.

A subscription to the complete report with detailed tables, charts and historical data can be purchased by contacting Kory Bockman at Statistics_Publications@afandpa.org or 202-463-4716.

About AF&PA

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) serves to advance U.S. paper and wood products manufacturers through fact-based public policy and marketplace advocacy. The forest products industry is circular by nature. AF&PA member companies make essential products from renewable and recycle resources, generate renewable bioenergy and are committed to continuous improvement through the industry's sustainability initiative — Better Practices, Better Planet 2030: Sustainable Products for a Sustainable Future.

The forest products industry accounts for approximately 5% of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP, manufactures about $350 billion in products annually and employs about 925,000 people. The industry meets a payroll of about $65 billion annually and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 43 states.

SOURCE: AF&PA