Agfa is blaming freight and raw materials cost boosts for an August increase in the cost of printing plates.

The maker says the “ongoing rise of raw material costs, particularly aluminium, energy and packaging materials, in combination with high freight rates, makes price adjustments unavoidable”.

The price of aluminium, the key component of an offset printing plate, peaked in June at more than US$2,500/ton (A$3,294/ton), while prices for packaging materials “almost doubled” in a couple of months, it says. Freight and transportation services “remain under severe pressure” in terms of availability and cost.

Agfa’s offset plate prices will increase by up to ten per cent from August 1, “as contracts permit” and is “in addition to the previously announced and implemented increase and will likely be followed by subsequent increases as the trend continues”.

Agfa says its sales teams will be in contact with their customers to “discuss the details and support the implementation”, taking into account individual existing agreements.

Digital print and chemicals and offset solutions is one of four divisions of the Agfa-Gevaert Group, which had turnover of 1,709 million Euros (A$2.69 million) in 2020.