M-Real Announces Paper Price Hike

European supplier to raise U.S., U.K. prices.

By Jason Fell
03/20/2008

European paper supplier M-Real has announced price increases for its magazine papers in the American and European markets.

Earlier this week, the company said it is to increase the price for its U.K. coated magazine papers by about $80 per ton. The company attributes the increases to improving profitability in its magazine segment, which has faced pressures from increasing cost and strong market demand.

An M-Real spokesperson confirmed over e-mail to FOLIO: a price increase to its U.S. market publishing-grade papers of $3 per 100 lbs.—or about $60 per ton. The increase will be effective April 1.

The spokesperson called M-Real’s U.S. magazine paper segment “an important market,” but declined to say exactly what percentage it makes up of M-Real’s total business.

Late last year, M-Real announced that its Kirkniemi Mill in Finland, which produces "Galarie Lite" and "Galarie Brite" coated papers, for the first time received Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) accreditation, which addresses, among a number of issues, the mill's environmental effect. M-real's coated magazine papers include Galerie Lite, Galerie Brite and Galerie Silk and Galerie Fine.