<B>North American Newsprint Production Eases in March</B>

North American newsprint production eased back slightly during March from figures the same time last year. According to the Pulp and Paper Products Council, a total of 1.337 million metric tons of newsprint were produced in North America during March. The total is down 1.1 percent from last year's March total. Despite the modest dip, the operating rate at North American mills climbed, from 95 percent of capacity last March to 97 percent of capacity this past month.

Despite the decline, newsprint production the first three months is up 0.9 percent to 4.010 million tons, while the operating rate at newsprint mills increased to 97 percent of capacity.

The slip in production totals between the two years was due to the sharp 5.1 percent decline in Canadian newsprint production. For this March Canadian newsprint mills produced 771,000 metric tons of finished products, compared to last March's figure of 812,000 metric tons.

The figure brought the three-month production total to 2.317 million metric tons, a 1.5- percent decline from last year's three-month total.

Meanwhile, U.S. newsprint production continues to run exceptionally strong schedules. For this past March production jumped 4.7 percent to 567,000 metric tons, pushing the three-month figure to 1.694 million metric tons, a 4.4 percent increase.

The shipment of finished newsprint from North American sources continues to be exceptionally strong. March's shipment total climbed 8.5 percent to 1.424 million metric tons. The totals for the month pushed the three-month shipment total to 4.034 million metric tons, a 6.9 percent improvement.

Strength was seen across the board, with shipments to the United States climbing 5.2 percent for the month and 5 percent the first three months; shipments to Canada, moving up 16 percent for March and 12 percent the first three months; and shipments overseas climbing 17.9 percent for the month and 12.2 percent for the first three months.