August 22, 2003 – The Pulp and Paper Products Council announced last week that North American printing and writing paper demand was down 1.5% in June, bringing the year-to-date figure to +1.1%. Shipments to North America dropped 2.6% in June and 0.8% year-to-date. In June, sales to oversea markets grew 15.4% over the same month last year, for an increase of 10.2% so far this year. As a result, the operating rate for H1 2003 was 87% compared to 88% a year ago. Mill inventories closed the month at 2.8 million tonnes, 56 000 tonnes more than at the end of May 2003. 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.