regions .principal cost drivers include manufacturing efficiency , raw material and energy costs and freight costs .printing papers net sales for 2014 decreased 8% ( 8 % ) to $ 5.7 billion compared with $ 6.2 billion in 2013 and 8% ( 8 % ) compared with $ 6.2 billion in 2012 .operating profits in 2014 were 106% ( 106 % ) lower than in 2013 and 103% ( 103 % ) lower than in 2012 .excluding facility closure costs , impairment costs and other special items , operating profits in 2014 were 7% ( 7 % ) higher than in 2013 and 8% ( 8 % ) lower than in 2012 .benefits from higher average sales price realizations and a favorable mix ( $ 178 million ) , lower planned maintenance downtime costs ( $ 26 million ) , the absence of a provision for bad debt related to a large envelope customer that was booked in 2013 ( $ 28 million ) , and lower foreign exchange and other costs ( $ 25 million ) were offset by lower sales volumes ( $ 82 million ) , higher operating costs ( $ 49 million ) , higher input costs ( $ 47 million ) , and costs associated with the closure of our courtland , alabama mill ( $ 41 million ) .in addition , operating profits in 2014 include special items costs of $ 554 million associated with the closure of our courtland , alabama mill .during 2013 , the company accelerated depreciation for certain courtland assets , and evaluated certain other assets for possible alternative uses by one of our other businesses .the net book value of these assets at december 31 , 2013 was approximately $ 470 million .in the first quarter of 2014 , we completed our evaluation and concluded that there were no alternative uses for these assets .we recognized approximately $ 464 million of accelerated depreciation related to these assets in 2014 .operating profits in 2014 also include a charge of $ 32 million associated with a foreign tax amnesty program , and a gain of $ 20 million for the resolution of a legal contingency in india , while operating profits in 2013 included costs of $ 118 million associated with the announced closure of our courtland , alabama mill and a $ 123 million impairment charge associated with goodwill and a trade name intangible asset in our india papers business .printing papers .
[['in millions', '2014', '2013', '2012'], ['sales', '$ 5720', '$ 6205', '$ 6230'], ['operating profit ( loss )', '-16 ( 16 )', '271', '599']]
north american printing papers net sales were $ 2.1 billion in 2014 , $ 2.6 billion in 2013 and $ 2.7 billion in 2012 .operating profits in 2014 were a loss of $ 398 million ( a gain of $ 156 million excluding costs associated with the shutdown of our courtland , alabama mill ) compared with gains of $ 36 million ( $ 154 million excluding costs associated with the courtland mill shutdown ) in 2013 and $ 331 million in 2012 .sales volumes in 2014 decreased compared with 2013 due to lower market demand for uncoated freesheet paper and the closure our courtland mill .average sales price realizations were higher , reflecting sales price increases in both domestic and export markets .higher input costs for wood were offset by lower costs for chemicals , however freight costs were higher .planned maintenance downtime costs were $ 14 million lower in 2014 .operating profits in 2014 were negatively impacted by costs associated with the shutdown of our courtland , alabama mill but benefited from the absence of a provision for bad debt related to a large envelope customer that was recorded in 2013 .entering the first quarter of 2015 , sales volumes are expected to be stable compared with the fourth quarter of 2014 .average sales margins should improve reflecting a more favorable mix although average sales price realizations are expected to be flat .input costs are expected to be stable .planned maintenance downtime costs are expected to be about $ 16 million lower with an outage scheduled in the 2015 first quarter at our georgetown mill compared with outages at our eastover and riverdale mills in the 2014 fourth quarter .brazilian papers net sales for 2014 were $ 1.1 billion compared with $ 1.1 billion in 2013 and $ 1.1 billion in 2012 .operating profits for 2014 were $ 177 million ( $ 209 million excluding costs associated with a tax amnesty program ) compared with $ 210 million in 2013 and $ 163 million in 2012 .sales volumes in 2014 were about flat compared with 2013 .average sales price realizations improved for domestic uncoated freesheet paper due to the realization of price increases implemented in the second half of 2013 and in 2014 .margins were favorably affected by an increased proportion of sales to the higher-margin domestic market .raw material costs increased for wood and chemicals .operating costs were higher than in 2013 and planned maintenance downtime costs were flat .looking ahead to 2015 , sales volumes in the first quarter are expected to decrease due to seasonally weaker customer demand for uncoated freesheet paper .average sales price improvements are expected to reflect the partial realization of announced sales price increases in the brazilian domestic market for uncoated freesheet paper .input costs are expected to be flat .planned maintenance outage costs should be $ 5 million lower with an outage scheduled at the luiz antonio mill in the first quarter .european papers net sales in 2014 were $ 1.5 billion compared with $ 1.5 billion in 2013 and $ 1.4 billion in 2012 .operating profits in 2014 were $ 140 million compared with $ 167 million in 2013 and $ 179 million in compared with 2013 , sales volumes for uncoated freesheet paper in 2014 were slightly higher in both .

Question: in 2014 what was the decrease in printing papers net sales in millions
Answer: 500