Translated from “Papir Journalen” Christiania, Norway by the News-print
Manufacturers’ Association.
In the report of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce is said as a general
opinion about the Swedish paper industry in 1915, that it has had to
pass through many troubles, and that operation has been difficult and
expensive.
Of raw materials, pulpwood prices increased very early on account
of forced pitprops export, and because pitprops used much timber
previously chiefly had been used for wood pulp and cellulose, that is
pine and spruce of large dimensions. To a larger extent there were
made purchases of pulpwood in Sweden for export to Norway, which, on
which account of the war, could not supply its demand by imports from
Russia. On account of the purchases for foreign consumers, the supply
in some places was so scant that several woodpulp and paper mills had
difficulties in covering their requirements. These conditions caused a
great rise in prices. After repeated petitions from the Swedish Paper
Mills Association on November 6th, 1915, an embargo was declared on
the export of unrefined spruce and pine. In spite of this, felling and
purchases for foreign consumers have been continued, in the hope that
licenses would be given liberally and likewise with the thought that
after the coming peace, it would be possible to ship great quantities
of pulpwood from Sweden to countries, where it then would be in great
demand. In some parts of the country these conditions have brought
about an enormous wood felling which for a long time to come will
decrease the supply of pulpwood.
A number of requisites to the woodpulp and paper industry, which must
be imported have not only increased in prices enormously, but it has
been attended by many difficulties in obtaining the most necessary
supply.
The rise in prices of some raw materials and requirements have at the
end of the year been estimated at the following figures:
per cent.
Pulpwood has gone up 30-60
Dyestuffs 400
Chloride of lime 1000
Coal 400-500
China clay 100-200
Resin and other chemicals 300
Sulphur 160-200
Felts, wires, reserve parts, oils and
everything else necessary to the
unhampered operation of the machines 100-500
New machines to replace worn out ones,
electric appliances, etc. 65-500
But in other respects too, the production has become more expensive,
for instance increased wages to employees and laborers on account
of the famine, greatly increased freights for imports and exports,
considerably raised railway tariffs, etc.
All these items of increased cost in production and operation, have,
of course, brought about an increase in the prices of paper, so far as
this has been possible. Some buyers in foreign countries have consented
to an increase of price for deliveries on older contracts. The sellers
in Sweden, by the bye have arranged to sell f.o.b. Swedish ports, and
have avoided thereby the risk of increase in freight and insurance.
In the first half of last year, the prices could be raised on a few
qualities. But only in the latter half of the year came a systematic
co-operation among the Swedish producers for a regulation of prices,
and this price regulating was done in concurrence with the Norwegian
paper producers.
The foreign demand for paper has increased latterly, and now very high
prices are offered for some qualities. The demand for paper suitable
for the producing of yarn especially has been very great and of these
kinds of paper Sweden has sold quite a good deal. There has been a
demand for paper yarns and textiles made therefrom; but the production
thereof is very limited in Sweden. The production and the exports of
some other paper goods has increased during 1915. But the increase has
not always, to cite the report mentioned, been as great as might have
been desired in order to get a firm hold on the world markets for the
Swedish paper industry, for which the present time is most favorable.