Mail and print industry challenges

International Paper’s decision to permanently close its Savannah and Riceboro pulp mills has sent shockwaves through Coastal Georgia and the wider US forestry industry. These facilities highlight a broader trend of mill closures across the US South and raise questions about the sector’s future. The fallout extends far beyond direct employees. Entire supply chains—local economies, timber growers, and loggers—now face reduced markets for their wood. These closures are not isolated, in the past three years, major facilities have also shut down in Charleston, SC (WestRock Company); Orange, TX (International Paper); Georgetown, SC (International Paper); Campti, LA (International Paper); and Cedar Springs, GA (Georgia-Pacific LLC). Having worked across forestry markets around the world, I’ve seen firsthand the pressures reshaping our domestic industry. Key challenges include: 1) Falling demand: Printing and writing paper demand has declined nearly 20% in the past three years as digital alternatives expand. 2) Global competition: Lower-cost producers in Asia and Latin America continue to capture market share. 3) Rising costs: Inflation, aging infrastructure, and high maintenance expenses make older US mills uncompetitive. 4) Environmental compliance: Regulatory costs add pressure on mills already operating on thin margins. These challenges, combined with weak pulp and paper prices, are leaving domestic mills with few answers. This is not a problem that started yesterday, but rather the continuation of a decades-long shift toward larger, highly automated mills. Still, there is a silver lining. At Greenfield LLC, we are locally rooted in the US Southeast and focused on connecting our forest resources to global markets. We are working closely with landowners, loggers, and sawmills—as well as stakeholders like the Georgia Forestry Association and the Georgia Department of Economic Development —to create new outlets for logs, lumber, and woodchips. #Savannah #pulpandpaper #Forestry #Globalmarkets #softwood #hardwood https://lnkd.in/e4rz4gGi

📊 Print in 2025: Where Europe Stands 🧵 Intergraf’s latest data paints a nuanced picture of the €193B European print and packaging industry caught between innovation and contraction. 🔻 Graphic print in structural decline Down 1.0% in real terms in 2024 and projected to fall 0.8% annually through 2029. Newspapers, magazines and catalogues continue to erode, only books remain buoyant thanks largely to higher-value inkjet and digital print, not volume. 📦 Packaging & labels still powering growth Up 2.4% in 2024; forecast to hit €128B by 2029 where flexible formats and foodservice recovery are key drivers. 🖨️ Technology snapshot Inkjet is the fastest-growing at +6.9% whilst flexo remains the top volume process. Digital systems now account for 37% of equipment sales. 🌍 Trade tensions loom EU exported €1.9B more printed products than it imported in 2024 but its surplus has shrunk 27% over the past decade. Imports from China are up +70%, reaching nearly €900M mostly low-cost books and colouring products. 🇺🇸 Transatlantic trade alert EU runs a €200M surplus with the US but new US tariff threats could hit input costs hard particularly cartonboard, aluminium and tinplate. The impact unclear but risks mirror COVID-era volatility. 🇬🇧 EU-UK trade still vital UK imported hundreds of millions in printed goods from the EU in 2024. Books, advertising and newspapers lead export categories making stability in customs and regulation a key concern post-Brexit. ⚠️ Risks & realities High labour costs in Western Europe continue to squeeze margins. 96% of print companies have <20 staff but generate only 29% of revenue. The industry is surviving on innovation but it's not immune to inflation, energy shocks or supply chain hangovers. It has to remain agile and adaptive. 💡 Outlook to 2029 EU print value expected to reach €203B, driven by packaging. The winners will be those who invest in automation, digital workflows and smart, sustainable formats. The full report is available to members of Intergraf and is excellent as ever in its granular detail and quality of information. I would recommend any printer or packaging supplier to join their associations and gain these valuable insights for themselves. #PrintIndustry #Packaging #DigitalPrint #Inkjet #TradeTensions #USATariffs #UKTrade #LabelTech #Intergraf #PrintEconomics #PackagingTrends

With over 12 years as director of a leading printing company in India, I'm often analyzing shifts that impact our industry's path ahead. Here are 3 futuristic trends I'm keeping a close eye on: 1. Mass Customization > The era of long print runs is ending. As consumer demand grows more personalized, printing will need to cost-effectively produce small batches or even single copies. > Digital printing technology allowing print-on-demand will be a game changer. Players who leverage customization will tap into this opportunity driven by declining print quantities. 2. Packaging Growth > Packaging is a boom segment as e-commerce expands. Printed boxes, shipping labels, mailers are essential for online product delivery. > Innovative packaging also allows brands to stand out on crowded shelves. We are enhancing our capabilities to meet rising packaging needs of customers. 3. Process Innovation > As consistency and quality become crucial, innovation must focus on foolproof processes over flashy products. > We are implementing advanced automation, strict quality checkpoints and real-time tracking to ensure reliable, defect-free results - every single time. While these trends signal a vibrant future, thriving requires fresh thinking and passion from the next generation. We must pass the torch to these forward-looking youth to lead the legacy ahead. I welcome thoughts from industry peers on key shifts impacting our direction.  Let's discuss how printing can strategically reinvent itself by embracing change.

The Quote-and-Hope Epidemic: Breaking Free from Reactive Selling In the print industry, we're facing an epidemic of quote-and-hope selling. Sales reps rush to provide numbers without proper qualification, perpetuating a cycle of price shopping that diminishes our value proposition. Here's why this happens and how to break free from this destructive pattern. 💣 The Current Reality 💣 - RFPs and bids have conditioned buyers to expect immediate pricing - Sales reps react to pricing requests without qualifying genuine needs - Multiple vendors race to the bottom on price - Value propositions get lost in the numbers game - Buyers control the sales process instead of sellers 💰 The Real Cost of Quoting too early 💰 1. Lost Deals: Without proper qualification, quotes are rarely competitive or properly aligned with customer needs 2. Margin Erosion: Price-focused discussions lead to unnecessary discounting Wasted Time: Preparing unqualified quotes drains resources 3. Damaged Industry: Widespread discounting sets unrealistic price expectations 4. Missed Opportunities: Failed to uncover additional pain points and needs                                                                                                                                                                                                                      💡 Moving Forward- How do you fix it?💡 The print industry can break free from the quote-and-hope cycle by: - Training sales teams in consultative selling - Developing structured qualification processes - Creating value-based presentation materials - Standing firm on proper discovery - Measuring and rewarding quality deals, not just volume Remember: Those who quote without qualifying are not selling – they're merely pricing. In today's complex print environment, success comes from being a trusted advisor, not the lowest bidder. For the love of sales, Your expertise and solutions have value. Don't let hasty quoting diminish either. 💗 TMH