Hygiene products have become more expensive. According to the National Consumer Institute and 60 million consumers, the average price of toilet paper increased by 7.1% over a year. According to the NielsenIQ institute, which is located in 10,000 points of sales in France, the paper towel roll price increased by 10%.
After coffee, frozen meats and pasta, toilet paper is the most inflationary item in the INC's 31-needle list.
Toilet paper prices have risen sharply due to an increase in raw material costs, which began before the conflict in Ukraine. According to the French Union of Cardboard, Paper and Cellulose Industries, (Copacel), the price of paper pulp increased by 50% over a year.
Paper industry is a large consumer of electricity and gas. In recent months, the price of energy has risen dramatically and accounts for about a third of the total cost of producing paper pulp. Paper industry was also affected by the rigors of maritime transport. Port congestion caused paper industry bills to explode.
Global paper market fever is also due to the rise of e-commerce. This has resulted in strong demand for cardboard packaging, which has caused a spike in paper pulp prices. Many paper factories are moving to the cardboard market, instead of abandoning paper production.
Are there empty shelves of paper towels and toilet paper in supermarkets again, just as they were at the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis? The sector professionals cannot rule out this possibility. Copacel recalls that there is a possibility of shortage in the event of a Russian gaz embargo. This is because pulp mills require a lot of gas for their operations.
