The pressure of further price increases on raw materials is having a dramatic effect on global paper production. This applies to chemicals as well as energy and transport, but especially for pulp. Analysts do not see any decrease in the forthcoming period, so the industry must be prepared to face these increases throughout 2018.

To ensure the quality of its products and services, Zanders says it will be the first paper producer to introduce a raw material surcharge that at least partially offsets the described cost increases. The surcharge will be 4 to 7%, depending on the product, and effective for all deliveries from May 14, 2018.

Zanders’ managing director Lennart Schley says, “This raw material surcharge should make it clear that this is not a regular price increase, as is common in any industry sector, but rather the compensation for an unprecedented cost explosion in the raw material market, especially in pulp.” A calming of the prices is expected from the end of 2018, Schley continues. “We will reduce the surcharge as soon as world market prices for the raw materials concerned fall again. In the spirit of good partnership with our customers, our goal is to go through this extraordinary phase together and to abolish the surcharge completely in 2019.”

The Zanders sales team will be in contact with its customers to provide them with further details about the implementation of the raw material surcharge.