COMMERCIAL PRINT MARKET TRENDS The paper market continues to struggle with price increases and paper availability. Merchants are implementing blanket increases as cost of business. All paper is on strict allocation and supply is significantly constricted.
Market Impacts expected through 2022: • Price Increases • Material Delays • Labor Shortages
Price Increases by Substrate & Material Delays Product
Price Increases
Order Lead Times
Notes Mills on strict allocation
Coated Paper
6X YTD
12+ weeks
Domestic mills at capacity and unable to build inventory Special make and low demand items not available Import delays due to shipping and transport constraints Mills on strict allocation or reservation system Domestic mills at capacity
Uncoated Paper
5X YTD
16+ weeks
Special make and low demand items not available Restricted sizing to standard trims Recent accident at a premier mill adding to supply chain stress Mills on strict allocation
Board
5X YTD
16+ weeks Limited items available in cartons, shifting to skids
Envelopes
3X YTD
6+ weeks all sizes and materials
4-6 weeks envelope packaging
All mills on allocation through year end
Mills not running at capacity due to demand
Labor Shortages Worker shortages continue to severely impact supply chains. With fewer people in the workforce due to COVID-19, and demand for higher pay, labor supply is not bouncing back as swiftly as consumer demand.