Sweden’s Production and Export of Paper
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.