The Ukraine war also had an enormous impact on the paper market: a year ago a ton of newspaper cost around 400 euros, but now it’s an average of just under 1000 euros, which is almost three times the previous year, and the trend is rising.
The high gas prices are to blame, because the paper pulp has to be dried to produce paper, often with heat generated from gas. Because energy costs are a major cost factor for paper mills, some are even forced to stop production because it is no longer economical. In addition, there is still too little waste paper on the market and the price for waste paper is therefore very high.
In Styria, the Norske Skog paper factory with 400 employees will shut down the plant for a month until a new energy-saving gas boiler is in use. “All existing orders and delivery agreements have been canceled due to subsequent impossibility,” the paper company told its customers in a dry letter.
“We are currently missing 150 tons from Norske Skog,” says the managing director of the OÖN printing center in Pasching, Ronald Sonnleitner. Luckily they have another supplier who is able to deliver. With the mere stocks you could get by for three weeks. Storing paper for a longer period of time is currently not an option because you simply can’t get it; “not even the assurance of being able to buy it later”.
In Italy, paper producer Pro-Gest has temporarily suspended paper production in its six factories. The reason given was the gas price record high, which made it impossible to continue production. As soon as the situation calms down, it is hoped that production will resume. With the higher price of paper, newspaper and book publishers are also coming under pressure to pass this on to their readers. The daily newspapers “La Repubblica” and “La Stampa” have become 20 cents more expensive since February and now cost 1.70 euros.
The domestic transport industry is also complaining: “We have reached a point where it is no longer possible for many to cover their costs,” said Wolfgang Böhm from the Vienna Chamber of Commerce. (uru)
Source: Nachrichten
