Jan 4 (Interfax) - Russian pulp-and-paper mills increased their foreign currency earnings by 6% to $1.8 billion in 2001, the forestry department at the Industry and Science Ministry, citing preliminary data, told Interfax. Russian forestry exports overall totaled an estimated $4.4 billion to $4.5 billion. Russia produced 5.28 million tonnes of pulp in 2001, 6.5% more than in 2000. The country also increased output of commodity pulp, sales of which rose 5% to 2.14 million tonnes. Output rose 2.5% to 3.42 million tonnes of paper, including 3.4% to 1.74 million tonnes of newsprint. Cardboard production rose 10% to 2.181 million tonnes. The forestry department said the growth in output of pulp, paper and cardboard in the past three years has increased utilization of production capacity from 40% to 80%, including 100% at paper-making machines.