Paper

A raft of new paper price increases are set to be rolled out in the next few weeks by papermakers who are continuing to battle rising costs of their own.

Finnish Paperworkers’ Union Paperiliitto has extended its strike action at UPM once again, this time by a further 10 days.

Lecta has confirmed a €150 (£126) per tonne energy surcharge across all of its grades, while French manufacturer Guyenne has also brought in an unspecified freight surcharge.

The Navigator Company will bring in a fresh €105 (£88) per tonne surcharge from 1 April due to the steep increase in energy costs, made worse by the war in Ukraine.

Media group Reach has warned that “print driven cost inflation” will hit its 2022 profits, and it could increase cover prices or look at product changes to mitigate the impact.

Paper makers are implementing a further swathe of surcharges and at least one continental mill has been temporarily shut down after spiralling energy costs made its operation uneconomical.

UPM has continued to meet with union representatives on a daily basis this week, but despite some progress the union has described negotiations as “not yet well advanced”.

Mondi Group has said it is “assessing all options” for its Russian business, which is starting to be impacted by sanctions affecting the country following the invasion of Ukraine.

FSC and PEFC have barred wood and timber from Russia and Belarus from their certified products, as a host of other industry suppliers go public with their stance against Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Paper and advanced materials group James Cropper has launched a coloured paper range that uses dye derived from plant extract which would have otherwise been wasted.