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Canada newsprint makers ran at 96 pc in February

MONTREAL: The Canadian newsprint industry operated at 96 percent of capacity in February, compared to 92 percent in February 1995, said the Canadian Pulp and Paper Association (CPPA) on Thursday.

The low operating rate for February 1995 was due to a strike at a West Coast mill, the industry group said.

For the month, production amounted to 744,000 tonnes, up 8.2 percent from a year ago. Total deliveries by Canadian producers reached 708,000 tonnes, an increase of 6.1 percent from February 1995.

Total shipments grew 2.1 percent to 1,420,000 tonnes. Domestic deliveries dropped to 174,000 tonnes, which represents a 3.5 percent decline.

Shipments to U.S. customers declined 2.0 percent to 918,000 tonnes. Shipments offshore, however, totaled 328,000 tonnes, a jump of 20 percent.

According to data provided by Newspaper Association of America, consumption by U.S. dailies totaled 678,000 tonnes in February 1995, CPPA said.-Reuter