Printing-writing grades--According to the AF&PA'S monthly report on production, for the month of September issued October 22, total printing-writing paper shipments were down 4.0% in September as compared to September 2014. Total printing-writing paper inventory levels decreased 4.0% from August.

Uncoated freesheet shipments were slightly ahead (by less than 1.0%) of comparable shipments in September 2014, the second increase in the past four months. Imports of UFS decreased by 25% year-over- year in August.

September coated free sheet (CFS) paper shipments decreased 1.0 percent compared to September 2014. Imports of CFS papers increased 15% in August, the fifth year-over-year increase in the past six months.

Uncoated mechanical (UM) paper shipments decreased 7.0% when compared with September 2014. Imports of UM papers were down 15% in August, the fourteenth consecutive monthly decline.

Coated mechanical (CM) shipments in September decreased 18% relative to September 2014. Imports of CM increased in August, up 18%, the fourth year-over-year increase in the past six months.

Kraft papers--Total kraft paper shipments were 136.6 thousand short tons, 1.5% lower than in September 2014. Bleached kraft paper shipments decreases slightly from 8.7 thousand tons in in August 2015, down to 8.6 thousand, while unbleached kraft paper dropped from 134.9 to 128.0 thousand short tons. Overall, year-to-date shipments up to September 2015 were 1.5% greater than in the same period of 2014. Total month-end inventories decreased to 72.6 thousand short tons.

Containerboard--Production was 0.4% lower than in September 2014. The month-over-month average daily production compared to August 2015 was 3.0% lower. The containerboard operating rate for September was down slightly, to 96.1%.

Boxboard--Total boxboard production was down 1.1% compared to September 2014 and was down 4.9% from August 2015. Unbleached kraft boxboard production was down somewhat both from September 2014 and August 2015. Total solid bleached boxboard and liner production also decreased compared to September 2014 and August 2015. Production of recycled boxboard was flat compared to September 2014 and down from August 2015.