(Printing and writing papers include all papers used to print published materials such as books, magazines, catalogues etc., as well as office papers such as forms, envelopes and reprographic papers. It excludes newsprint.) Montréal, November 01, 2002 – The Pulp and Paper Products Council announced today that North American demand for printing and writing papers increased 9.7% in September. Although September’s results are compared to weak 2001 figures, there is no doubt that market conditions are significantly improving. The strong performance in the last month contributed to finally bring the year-to-date results in positive territory (+0.3%). Total North American shipments grew 8.7% in September but were still down 0.8% for the first nine months. As a result, the operating rate, measured by the shipment-to-capacity ratio, stood at 92% in September 2002 and 86% year-to-date. Mill inventories dropped by 74 000 tonnes from the end of August, to 2.318 million tonnes. The Pulp and Paper Products Council (PPPC) is a world leader in providing up-to date, comprehensive market data and intelligence on global pulp and paper markets. The PPPC is an alliance of product associations serving an international membership which accounts for 70% of global market pulp capacity and more than 50% of world communication papers capacity (newsprint and printing & writing papers).