After the French association Uniic The European association Intergraf is taking a stand against the sharp rise in production costs for printing plants.
In recent days, several Intergraf members have reported "sudden and significant" price increases due to energy costs "imposed by their paper suppliers" across Europe "with immediate effect - regardless of the date of the order, i.e. on delivery contracts already agreed" The Brussels-based association, which brings together 20 national federations, denounces this.
"Printing companies cannot sustain such drastic and unexpected price increases. (Euros) Intergraf and our members are concerned about this unsustainable increase, which we find contrary to any conventional business practice or trustworthy business relationship."
And Intergraf recalls that these surcharges follow a wave of paper price increases since the beginning of the year representing about 30 to 40% increase reported by the French printers. This price hike was already attributed to the increase of the energy costs, as well as to the increase of the costs of raw materials and logistics.
In addition, printers are facing significant shortages of paper in the European market (especially graphic paper), resulting in delivery failures. They do not have "no medium-term perspective on paper delivery" and "cannot fulfill their customers' orders, resulting in potential contract breaches and loss of customers."
They also have to respond to their own rising energy costs, as well as the costs of logistics, transportation and other raw materials. "Printers can't pass on all these increases to their customers."
Beatrice Klose, General Secretary of Intergraf, states: "While it is not Intergraf's goal to interfere in market relationships, it is our role to report on the situation our members are experiencing. We therefore call for open and transparent dialogue to defuse tensions."
Intergraf members are therefore calling on paper suppliers to work with their customers and discuss an appropriate timeline for any price increases so that printers can better prepare and forecast their costs.
"These standard business practices are critical to our value chain to ensure ongoing and loyal business relationships."
