1.   In a speech at an industry conference in Montreal last month, Abitibi Chairman Ron Oberlander said the outlook for newsprint producers has improved.

2.   Newsprint producers have generally matched price hikes announced by rival companies, like Abitibi-Price Inc., a Canadian company that has been aggressive with its pricing policy.

3.   Sepap also is the only newsprint producer in the Czech Republic.

4.   Based in Mentakab, Pahang, the MNI plant will be the first newsprint producer in the country and is expected to be operational late next year.

5.   Hasan said he could only ask the newsprint producers to negotiate with publishers, as the government could not subsidize the industry.

6.   Newsprint producers have blamed the price hike on imported raw materials which must be paid for in U.S. dollar.