Some have already stopped the machinery and others are considering it: six Italian paper mills in 2026 have stopped, extending the maintenance phase, and at least 20% (about thirty paper mills) are declaring they are in crisis and are thinking of stopping production in the coming weeks if energy costs do not decrease.
Read more Europe, von der Leyen: no social media for under 13s. Canada first EU associate member
Ask the Sun
The questions are automatically suggested by 24Ore AI
based on the content viewed.
The paper sector, one of the most energy-intensive, is structurally affected by the exponential increase in energy costs. This already happened between 2022 and 2023, when the war between Russia and Ukraine highlighted the fragility of the national supply system. However, today, entrepreneurs say, the speculation variable is much more present and the problem has worsened further.
The result is that many companies are working on the edge of a precarious balance between costs and revenues: some declare they are already at a loss but want to fulfill orders; others are considering stopping in the coming days; others have already stopped for about ten days, thus also halting municipal paper recycling.
Read more Gdf, fake Italian doctor residing in Montecarlo: 1.3 million euros hidden from the tax authorities
The skyrocketing price of gas is the main problem for the paper industry at the moment: it has drastically reduced margins and weighs about 40% on the budget. The recent spike has severely tested entrepreneurs, ever since the cost reached 85 euros per megawatt hour.
Lorenzo Poli, president of Assocarta, highlights how politics should take measures, also because “VAT tax revenue increases in step with energy costs, it would be enough to just suspend or return that. We are receiving increasingly alarming reports in the association,” adds Poli, who leads an association composed of 150 paper mills. “Throughout the national territory, up to 20% of companies declare they are in difficulty and are considering ‘technical’ closures, waiting for prices to stabilize. We are all navigating by sight, an element of extreme instability for entrepreneurs.” Poli also emphasizes how paper mills are connected to the social function of recycling.
Read more Naples, 30% limit for short-term rentals in condominiums
