Canadian Newsprint Production Up; U.S. News Production Dipped

Canadian newsprint production increased sharply for November, compared to figures the same time last year. According to the Canadian Pulp and Paper Association Canadian newsprint production moved up more than 14 percent to 751,000 metric tons during the month from figures the same time last year. November figures pushed the 11-month total to 8.433 million metric tons, a 7.8 percent increase.

The operating rate at Canadian newsprint mills also improved, from 82 percent of capacity in November, 1998, to 95 percent of capacity this most recent November. The operating rate for the first 11 months also increased, from 87 percent of capacity in 1998 to 94 percent of capacity during the same time last year.

Meanwhile, U.S. newsprint production basically held the same between the two months. According to the CPPA U.S. newsprint production stands at 549,000 metric tons for November 1999, while the figure for the previous November stands at 550,000 metric tons. For the first 11 months production dipped 1.3 percent to 5.944 million metric tons, while the operating rate also declined, from 98 percent of capacity in 1998 to 96 percent last year.

The shipment of recovered fiber increased for both Canadian and U.S. newsprint producers. Canadian sources reported a 13.1 percent increase in shipments for the month and a 7 percent increase for the first 11 months, while U.S. sources reported a 4.6 percent increase for November, although shipments dropped by 1.1 percent for the first 11 months of the year.