La Jornada: Conflict in the Middle East hits the graphic arts industry

The effects of the conflict in the Middle East reached the graphic arts industry: workshops and printing presses face rising prices of basic supplies to produce books, newspapers, magazines and other printed materials (paper, ink and printing plates, among others).

According to figures reviewed by The Dayimported paper has risen more than 30 percent and national paper around 15 percent; Meanwhile, ink had increases close to 10 percent and printing plates had double-digit increases. At the same time, the prices of chemical inputs showed much more pronounced increases, which in some cases doubled their value.

In recent weeks, large suppliers notified their clients of a series of increases based on the conflict in the Middle East. At the same time, sources in the sector point out that there are publishers that, as a result of these increases, have reduced their circulations or pages per publication.

Although there are inputs that rise and fall in price throughout the year, such as paper, there are others that do not decrease, such as ink and printing plates, which will increase costs even when the conflict ends soon.

According to information obtained by this medium, since the war began the price of national paper has gone from 13.10 to 15 pesos per kilogram, an increase of 15 percent, while imported paper has increased from 730 to 990 dollars per ton, an increase of 36 percent.

In the case of ink, the four base colors (black, cyan, magenta and yellow) have risen 9.5 percent on average. The black price went from 51 to 55.85 pesos per kilogram; cyan, from 79 to 86.51; magenta, from 75 to 82.13 pesos, and yellow, from 79 to 86.51 pesos.

For its part, lithographic foil, used in printing plates, increased 15.6 percent, from 7.70 to 8.90 dollars per square meter.

The increases in solvents and other chemicals were greater. The fountain solution went from 45 to 66.5 pesos per liter, an increase of 47.8 percent, while the blanket and roller washer rose from 36 to 63.5 pesos per liter, an increase of 76.4 percent.

The cost of reporting

The graphic arts industry is a key link in the production and circulation of information on a global scale. Through it, books, newspapers, packaging, labels and a wide range of printed products are produced that support both publishing activity and commerce, education and manufacturing, among other sectors.

Its relevance not only lies in the volume it produces, but in its function in value chains, as it connects suppliers of raw materials with cultural and consumer industries.

The graphic arts are part of the books, prints and press category of the cultural sector, which contributes around 2.8 percent of Mexico’s gross domestic product (GDP) and concentrates around 3.5 percent of national employment, according to the Culture Satellite Account of the National Institute of Statistics and Geography.

SunChemical México, a company that produces inks and solutions for the printing industry, informed its customers on April 15 that it will raise the prices of all its ink lines starting May 1.

“These adjustments are due to the current situation in the Middle East, which is impacting energy markets, logistics routes and the availability of chemical raw materials (…) which makes price increases and surcharges necessary to guarantee continuity of supply.”

Holmen, a Swedish company specialized in the production of paper and forest products, informed its customers on March 26, 2026 that it will impose surcharges derived from the increase in the cost of raw materials and transportation.

“The conflict in the Middle East has resulted in significant increases in raw material costs for paper production, as well as higher transportation charges,” it reported.

ECO3 Graphic Solutions, a global provider of prepress systems – technologies that prepare files before printing – and supplies for the industry, informed its clients in Mexico on February 27 that it will raise its prices due to an increase in costs internationally.

“The costs of strategic raw materials, particularly aluminum, the manufacturing base for the plates offsethave shown relevant and sustained increases,” he argued.

Grupo Sánchez, a supplier to the printing industry, notified on April 20 a “temporary adjustment” in prices due to the increase in the cost of its inputs, particularly of petrochemical, energy and logistics origin.