Prelim UFS duties may already be having impact with Asian imports down, US demand 'decent, OK'

摘要

US uncoated freesheet (UFS) paper shipments were better in August and so far in September than expected because of a drop-off in Asian imports, contacts said. As a result, buyers and sellers reported unchanged US market prices, and less discounting than in June and July. August shipments averaged 21,606 tons, up slightly from July's 21,552. The August total was only the fifth best month of the year so far, but was flat vs August 2014 shipments. Further, year-to-date shipments were down 1.9%, almost half the 3.4% average annual decline the last 10 years.