The European printing industry association, Intergraf, has warned that the shortage of paper is causing chaos among printers and their customers, with severe repercussions in the supply of print products for all economic markets expected.

It said this constitutes a threat not only to the graphic industry but endangers its support function for all sectors and the much-needed rebound of the European economy.

“The graphic industry experiences a paper supply shortage it has never experienced before. The print industry with its manifold products serves citizens and businesses throughout Europe every day,” it said.

“For over six months, the sector is experiencing an unprecedent crisis. Paper prices have been registered a growth rate of 45 per cent on average, even up to 80 per cent for newsprint paper used to produce newspapers.

“These soaring prices, mainly due to increasing energy costs, are now accompanied by a major shortage of paper and board across Europe.

“The recent and still ongoing strike in Nordic paper mills – now set to last until the end of March or even April – aggravates the situation for the supply of paper and board in Europe in the very short-term. The stocks of printing companies will not last until the strike has been settled.”

The association also said that the current war in the Ukraine will have impacts not only on the energy prices, but also on the supply of wood and pulp for European paper makers, further tightening supplies in the middle- to long-term.

“While the European printing industry acknowledges that we all have little influence on several of these factors, there are some concrete actions that can be taken by involved economic operators and authorities,” Intergraf said.

“We therefore call for:

• an immediate stop or a significant reduction of exports of pulp and paper to third countries to safeguard the autonomy of Europe’s printing and publishing industries.
• in the short term, that both sides involved in ongoing strike in Nordic paper mills find a common path towards a solution to guarantee the availability of necessary paper and board on the European market.
• in the longer term, securing of a European autonomy on wood, pulp and paper supplies for all economic sectors, by ensuring a sufficient supply of raw material and production capacity in Europe.”

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