Canadian Production of Pulp Fell 3% in July From Year Ago
May 05, 2011
MONTREAL -- Canadian production of market pulp fell 3% in July from a year earlier, while producers' inventories rose, the Canadian Pulp and Paper Association said. The industry group said Canadian mills produced 772,000 metric tons of market pulp in July, down from 798,000 metric tons a year earlier. A metric ton is 2,204.6 pounds. The industry operated at 98% of capacity in July. Shipments in July fell 3%, to 704,000 metric tons from 726,000 metric tons a year earlier. Canadian producer stocks grew by 68,000 metric tons in July, after having dropped by 400,000 metric tons in the second quarter, the association said. Based on current shipping rates, Canadian producers had 27 days of supply on hand at the end of July, up from 24 days at the end of June. Shipments in July to the U.S., Western Europe, Japan and within Canada were below year-earlier levels, while shipments to other countries rose 28%. Market pulp is wood pulp sold on the open market to producers of paper and other products. The statistics exclude pulp consumed at the producing mill or shipped to an affiliated mill.
