Schweitzer-Mauduit International announced price increases for paper products sold in North, Central and South America effective in July 2008.

According to the company, these price increases are necessary to partially recover significant acceleration in costs caused by the combination of higher purchase prices for wood pulp, energy, chemicals and transportation along with the negative cost impact of currency. The announced selling price increases will approach 20 per cent and will apply to customers that do not have long-term contracts.
Schweitzer-Mauduit International is a diversified producer of premium specialty papers and the world's largest supplier of fine papers to the tobacco industry. (ci)