All uncoated woodfree papers will be affected, which includes the paper manufacturer’s full range of business reels for offset and inkjet printing and cut-size office paper.

Metsä Board marketing manager Simon Guffogg attributed the price increase to the rising costs of raw materials such as pulp, fillers and starch as well as declining margins in the paper industry.

He said: "Our current paper price cannot sustain these increasingly high costs of key raw materials.

"Obviously we try to mitigate where we can but when we look at the complete picture we have no alternative but to increase prices to secure margin viability going forward.

"The situation is unsustainable and the paper industry would welcome some stability. Profitability must be restored to ensure the future of paper manufacturing."

The Amsterdam-based company said its representatives would be in contact with all customers affected by the increase across Europe.

Guffogg added: "We know everyone is finding the current economic climate tough but this price increase is, unfortunately, critical to our business.

"We trust our customers will understand the need for our prices to keep pace with our ever increasing costs."

Metsa Board's announcement follows a string of price increases in 2012 – notably Ahlstrom and Papierfabrik Scheufelen – due to heightening pressure from raw material and merchant competition.