Consumers and companies will feel the shortages in the paper market in their wallets. For example, some Christmas cards may become 25 percent more expensive and calendars and other printed matter will also rise in price. Printers and paper producers are warning against this now that the shortages in the paper market are continuing.
“The paper market is changing, partly due to a shortage of paper pulp,” says Wouter Haan of the print company Reclameland. “Paper has become 15 percent more expensive for us. Energy has become more expensive, the people, ink, transport from China. If this continues you will quickly arrive at a price increase of 20 to 25 percent.”
Due to problems with transport and the high demand for cardboard due to online shopping, there is a shortage of paper pulp. This is used in, for example, diapers, toilet paper and greeting cards. The shortage of pulp already caused problems with the supply of textbooks. Fewer reading books are also being printed because of the shortage.
Pulp friction
“At the moment there is pulp friction”, says Wouter Haan, pointing out the continuing shortages. He stocked up on extra paper last summer so as not to come up short later this year. “At some point, supply and demand have to come into balance again, so that we return to a normal rate.”
Paper producer Sappi has been raising prices in recent months and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. “We depend on raw materials that have increased in price by 50 percent in a short time since February,” says Marco Eikelenboom of Sappi.
Energy has also become more expensive in a short time.
His customers then pass on those higher prices. “The consumer who buys magazines, Christmas cards and calendars will feel something. That is inevitable.”
More expensive transport
The company Touché Cards also says that some of their Christmas cards are becoming more expensive. “Our purchasing prices have increased (partly) this year due to higher paper prices and more expensive packaging materials, but mainly due to the extreme increases in (container) transport,” says Hans Duran of the company.
According to him, the price increase is limited to cards from China. “We will not increase the price of Christmas cards produced in the Netherlands or Europe this year.”
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