Sappi Europe, which since March 2021 has been implementing an 8-10% increase on its coated and uncoated woodfree paper prices, announces a further increase in this segment. The Johannesburg, South Africa-based papermaker will add 7-10% to its prices on all grades of coated and uncoated paper, effective June 1, 2021 for all European markets. This is in addition to previously announced and implemented increases.
"The sharp rise in raw material input costs and freight rates due to global logistics constraints makes this increase inevitable." says the paper group, which warns that this increase will be "likely to be followed by subsequent increases as the trend continues."
The manufacturer had also revised its the increase on January 1st of the prices of its fine papers from 5% to 8% and by April 1, 2021 for all grades of packaging and specialty papers from 7% to 11%.
Spanish paper maker Lecta also announced a second price increase across its entire range of woodfree coated two-sided papers and uncoated papers, in sheets and reels, "in the current economic environment and due to the significant and continuous increase in raw material, production and logistics costs" . Rates will be increased by 8% as of June 1 in addition to from 8% to 10% applied since March 1 on these products . The producer has also increased other types of paper since the beginning of the year.
In Portugal, too, it is time for price increases. The Navigator Company based in Setubal, which markets Navigator, Discovery, Explorer, Inacopia, Inaset, Pioneer, or Target papers, announces that it will increase paper prices in Europe by 6% to 9%.
This increase will be effective for all shipments starting May 10, and follows the February 1 increase from 4% to 6%.
"This decision was made as a result of not only further increases in global pulp, chemical and logistics costs, with structural effects on the industry's profitability in Europe and globally, but also as a result of strong demand for Navigator products and brands in late 2020 and the first month of 2021" explains the company.
These significant increases come at a time when ink manufacturers and of plates have also increased their prices..
