compared with $ 6.2 billion in 2013 .operating profits in 2015 were significantly higher than in both 2014 and 2013 .excluding facility closure costs , impairment costs and other special items , operating profits in 2015 were 3% ( 3 % ) lower than in 2014 and 4% ( 4 % ) higher than in 2013 .benefits from lower input costs ( $ 18 million ) , lower costs associated with the closure of our courtland , alabama mill ( $ 44 million ) and favorable foreign exchange ( $ 33 million ) were offset by lower average sales price realizations and mix ( $ 52 million ) , lower sales volumes ( $ 16 million ) , higher operating costs ( $ 18 million ) and higher planned maintenance downtime costs ( $ 26 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', '2015', '2014', '2013'], ['sales', '$ 5031', '$ 5720', '$ 6205'], ['operating profit ( loss )', '533', '-16 ( 16 )', '271']]
north american printing papers net sales were $ 1.9 billion in 2015 , $ 2.1 billion in 2014 and $ 2.6 billion in 2013 .operating profits in 2015 were $ 179 million compared with a loss of $ 398 million ( a gain of $ 156 million excluding costs associated with the shutdown of our courtland , alabama mill ) in 2014 and a gain of $ 36 million ( $ 154 million excluding costs associated with the courtland mill shutdown ) in 2013 .sales volumes in 2015 decreased compared with 2014 primarily due to the closure of our courtland mill in 2014 .shipments to the domestic market increased , but export shipments declined .average sales price realizations decreased , primarily in the domestic market .input costs were lower , mainly for energy .planned maintenance downtime costs were $ 12 million higher in 2015 .operating profits in 2014 were negatively impacted by costs associated with the shutdown of our courtland , alabama mill .entering the first quarter of 2016 , sales volumes are expected to be up slightly compared with the fourth quarter of 2015 .average sales margins should be about flat reflecting lower average sales price realizations offset by a more favorable product mix .input costs are expected to be stable .planned maintenance downtime costs are expected to be about $ 14 million lower with an outage scheduled in the 2016 first quarter at our georgetown mill compared with outages at our eastover and riverdale mills in the 2015 fourth quarter .in january 2015 , the united steelworkers , domtar corporation , packaging corporation of america , finch paper llc and p .h .glatfelter company ( the petitioners ) filed an anti-dumping petition before the united states international trade commission ( itc ) and the united states department of commerce ( doc ) alleging that paper producers in china , indonesia , australia , brazil , and portugal are selling uncoated free sheet paper in sheet form ( the products ) in violation of international trade rules .the petitioners also filed a countervailing-duties petition with these agencies regarding imports of the products from china and indonesia .in january 2016 , the doc announced its final countervailing duty rates on imports of the products to the united states from certain producers from china and indonesia .also , in january 2016 , the doc announced its final anti-dumping duty rates on imports of the products to the united states from certain producers from australia , brazil , china , indonesia and portugal .in february 2016 , the itc concluded its anti- dumping and countervailing duties investigations and made a final determination that the u.s .market had been injured by imports of the products .accordingly , the doc 2019s previously announced countervailing duty rates and anti-dumping duty rates will be in effect for a minimum of five years .we do not believe the impact of these rates will have a material , adverse effect on our consolidated financial statements .brazilian papers net sales for 2015 were $ 878 million compared with $ 1.1 billion in 2014 and $ 1.1 billion in 2013 .operating profits for 2015 were $ 186 million compared with $ 177 million ( $ 209 million excluding costs associated with a tax amnesty program ) in 2014 and $ 210 million in 2013 .sales volumes in 2015 were lower compared with 2014 reflecting weak economic conditions and the absence of 2014 one-time events .average sales price realizations improved for domestic uncoated freesheet paper due to the realization of price increases implemented in the second half of 2015 .margins were unfavorably affected by an increased proportion of sales to the lower-margin export markets .raw material costs increased for energy and wood .operating costs were higher than in 2014 , while planned maintenance downtime costs were $ 4 million lower. .

Question: what was the percentage change in operating profits in 2015
Answer: 5.1%