Paper Price Remains at Peak; Ink Becomes 10 Percent More Expensive

According to the correspondent of the Iran Book News Agency (IBNA), while paper prices experienced unprecedented growth in recent weeks, this week paper prices remained on the same trajectory and, although they did not increase significantly, Iranian ink saw an approximately 10 percent price increase. At the same time, the market was accompanied by a decline in customer activity.

Many market experts believe that the increase in raw material prices, especially paper, has significantly raised the final cost of books. According to publishers, this very issue has led to a significant decrease in demand and a drop in sales in bookstores. This situation has also put pressure on printing houses. Reduced orders have forced some printing units to shut down production lines or reduce their workforce.

The shrinking of the publishing market and the reduction in book print runs can be considered one of the consequences of these price increases, an issue that will have widespread cultural impacts in addition to economic repercussions. Price stabilization, facilitated paper imports, and government support could prevent a deeper recession.

According to IBNA’s correspondent’s monitoring of the raw materials market, the price of Iranian ink has increased by 10 percent, such that each kilogram of colored Iranian glossy ink is 510,000 Tomans, each kilogram of black glossy ink is 395,000 Tomans, each kilogram of colored Iranian writing ink is 445,000 Tomans, and each kilogram of black Iranian writing ink is available in the market for 345,000 Tomans. The price of foreign glossy ink (Chinese, Korean, and German) also increased this week to approximately 700,000 to 850,000 Tomans.

The price of isopropyl alcohol also increased, with the Dutch-produced item priced at 168,000 to 180,000 Tomans per kilogram, and the South Korean-produced isopropyl alcohol announced at 180,000 Tomans.

Iranian cold binding glue also saw an increase of approximately 400,000 Tomans, reaching 3,300,000 Tomans, whereas its price in previous weeks was about 2,900,000 Tomans. Hot glue was also traded in the market for 370,000 Tomans per kilogram.

The price of two-sheet zinc plates also varies depending on payment terms and purchase volume. This item is traded in the market for 195,000 to 210,000 Tomans, depending on the brand and country of manufacture.

Furthermore, a review of the Zaher-ol-Eslam paper market this week indicates that each ream of 70-gram paper, 100×70 cm, was offered at 2,500,000 Tomans, and the 60×90 cm size at 2,200,000 Tomans, showing no significant increase compared to last week.

80-gram paper in 70×100 cm size was traded this week for approximately 2,800,000 Tomans, and the 60×90 cm size of 80-gram paper was sold for 2,300,000 Tomans per ream.

Also, the price of each kilogram of 250-gram gray-back cardboard is 95,000 Tomans, 180-gram is 93,000 Tomans per kilogram, 230-gram is 95,000 Tomans per kilogram, and 250-gram is 92,000 Tomans per kilogram.

Glossy paper, 128-gram, 100×70 cm size, was priced at 100,000 to 105,000 Tomans per kilogram; 250-gram, 70×100 cm size, at 115,000 Tomans; 300-gram, 70×100 cm size, at approximately 115,000 Tomans; and 200-gram, 70×100 cm size, at 109,000 Tomans.