From 1 January 2004 the Finnish manufacturer will raise the prices of its SC and coated mechanical papers by 5-8%.

The group said it had been talking to customers for some time about a need to increase prices due to low profitability and rising costs.

Earlier this month PrintWeek revealed that UPM-Kymmene and Stora Enso, the two largest manufacturers of magazine grade papers, planned to raise their prices, UPM from 1 October on non-contractual business and Stora from 1 January for all customers.