Office paper costs are on the rise, here and overseas.

 

Global paper supplier UPM appears to have weathered the ‘perfect storm’ of industrial action, the pandemic and the war in Ukraine by posting strong first quarter results.

 

The Finland-based company has settled an industrial dispute that shut down operations for many months and has implemented a series of hefty price rises over the past 12 months with further increases expected later this year.

 

The company’s sales increased by 12 per cent year-on-year to just over US$2.5 billion.

 

UPM said it will prioritise existing customer orders and restart deliveries “as soon as possible”. However, it is expected to take several weeks – or even months – for the supply situation to return to normal, particularly in light of the Russia/Ukraine conflict.

 

UPM supplies Complete Office Supplies with its exclusive New Future Opti office paper.

 

Paper on the agenda at Office Brands expo

 

Higher office paper prices are likely to be a hot talking point at the Office Brands expo in Brisbane later this week as Office Products News has received reports that two major paper suppliers have advised dealers and wholesalers of price increases ranging from seven to 10 per cent.

 

In February, Office Brands implemented a group subsidy arrangement to cover the increased freight costs of office paper to its Western Australian members.

 

The arrangement was put in place as a result of a freight charge being placed on paper being shipped to WA by Opal Australian Paper, owned by Japan’s Nippon Paper Group.

 

Adam Joy, Office Brands CEO, told OPN that the board had allocated an amount (understood to be around $120,000) to subsidise freight charges to WA for three months.

 

At the time, Joy said the board will review the situation in the coming months.

 

After nearly three years of ‘social distancing’ due to the pandemic, the Office Brands Reconnect EXPO and annual conference will be held at the Sofitel Hotel, Brisbane, on April 29-30.