Two European papermakers have announced plans to implement further price rises over the summer.

Sappi Europe is putting up the price of its woodfree coated sheets by 8%, while the price of its woodfree uncoated sheets and reels is set to rise by 5%-8%. The rises are effective from 1 July, and follow Sappi’s announcement earlier this month about its intention to raise the prices of coated fine paper and coated mechanical reels, also by 8%.

Sappi stated: “Ongoing cost increases allied with present price levels have led to unsustainable profitability for this business also, therefore corrective price actions are inevitable.”

Meanwhile, Lecta Merchanting Division,     made up of Torraspapel Distribution in Spain and Portugal, Torraspapel Malmenayde in France and Polyedra in Italy, announces a price increase on deliveries of its coated and uncoated woodfree papers and other grades effective first July 2015. The price increases recently announced by paper manufacturers have forced Lecta to apply a 6-9% price increase in all channels. This is also effective from the beginning of July. The group had already put the prices of its speciality papers up by 5%-7% in April.

In a statement announcing the increase, Lecta said: “This price movement is essential in order to offset rising manufacturing costs, particularly regarding high prices of raw materials.”

It remains to be seen whether the price rises will be successfully pushed through.