Can manufacturer Impress is implementing an increase of between 10 and 15 per cent on its prices in Europe, depending on product type.
CEO Francis Labbé says: “Like the whole packaging industry, Impress is facing unprecedented increases in its input costs in 2008. Sharply rising costs for electricity, gas and transport have already severely impacted our business in the first half of the year, and now we are facing further increases in lacquers, inks and coatings. At the same time suppliers are rationing deliveries of the tinplate and tin-free steels used in can making, causing significant supply disruption.
“We are making up the shortfalls as far as possible, but this is forcing us to purchase tinplate at spot prices far in excess of supply contracts booked for the full calendar year 2008. We are therefore having to take the unpleasant and unusual step of increasing our prices in the course of the calendar year.”
