March 23 Finnish media association: the Nordic country may have to stop printing newspapers in the coming weeks due to a serious shortage of newsprint caused by the paper mill strike and sanctions against Russia.

The Finnish Broadcasting Corporation quoted the association’s chief executive Yuka holmberi as saying: “newspaper printing may encounter difficulties in a few weeks.”

At this stage, the only newsprint factory in Finland is located in the central city of yemsenkowski. It is an enterprise of UPM group, a paper giant. It has been suspended since January this year due to strike. The strike is expected to last at least until mid April.

According to the Finnish Broadcasting Corporation, about 20% of Finnish newspaper newsprint is imported from Russia. After Russia launched a special military operation against Ukraine on February 24, Finland joined the ranks of sanctions against Russia and stopped importing newsprint.

In response to the shortage, Helsinki daily, Finland’s largest newspaper by circulation, has reduced the circulation of weekend supplements.

The shortage of newsprint supply in European countries appeared before the outbreak of the crisis in Ukraine, which was exacerbated by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. According to industry organizations, as of March 10, the price of newsprint in the European market has increased by 80% in the past six months. According to the Finnish Broadcasting Corporation, the current price is 670 euros per ton.

In addition, the Finnish newspaper industry is worried that the supply of printed boards may also be tight. At present, the main material of the printed board used by the newspaper is aluminum, and Russia is the third largest aluminum exporter in the world.

Finnish Customs said on the 23rd that compared with the two weeks before the European Union launched sanctions against Russia, Finland’s imports and exports to Russia have decreased by about 60% in the past two weeks.