Imported base paper is the main raw material for beverage cartons. There has been an underlying upward trend in the price of imported base paper, reflecting rising prices of pulp, a key material, and other factors. More recently, imported base paper prices have been rising sharply, given tight supplies worldwide, driven by increasing demand from emerging countries, especially in Asia.
As prices of polyethylene resin, wrapping materials and fuels, etc. are also rising following the recent depreciation of the yen, the profitability of beverage cartons has been severely constrained.