(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, January 07, 2003 – The Pulp and Paper Products Council announced today that North American demand for printing and writing papers was 4.4% higher in November 2002 than it was a year ago, bringing the year-to-date figure to +0.9%. Production increased 6.4% year-over-year, but, for the first eleven months, was 0.4% lower than the same period last year. Total North American shipments grew 5.3% in November bringing the year-to-date number to 0.1%. As a result, the operating rate, measured by the shipment-to-capacity ratio, stood at 86% in November 2002 compared to 84% for the same month last year. Mill inventories increased by 87 000 tonnes from the end of October, to 2.286 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).