Kodak UK marketing manager Pat Holloway said the manufacturer had done all it could to absorb the dramatic increases in input costs through manufacturing and procurement efficiencies.

"We've absorbed as much as we can," he said. "We're in the hands of our suppliers, both of raw materials and utilities, and there comes a point where you just have to pass on some of those costs."

Holloway stressed that Kodak would continue to do all it could to keep a lid on price rises; however, with further energy hikes expected this autumn, there is a concern that consumables increases will come with increasing regularity.

"As a manufacturer you never want to be in that position of having to increase prices more regularly and if you look at the record of our business we don't raise prices half as much as some of the others, but there's only so much you can do," said Holloway.

Mohan Garde, vice president and general manager, Packaging Business, Prepress Solutions, at Kodak GCG, added: "We'll continue to pursue manufacturing efficiencies that will minimise any future pricing impacts for our customer base."

Exact rises will be decided on a regional basis depending on local market conditions, while all contractual commitments will be honoured. A decision on the scale of the UK price rise is expected in early July.