The price of printing paper has been declining in the world market during the past year. Nonetheless, and despite the $550 per ton price, the Iranian press finds it increasingly difficult to provide paper for over 200 newspapers in the country.
The rise in the rates of exchange has made it almost impossible for many newspapers to survive unless they decrease the number of their pages or increase the newspapers’ price. This comes while many Iranians have no place in their shopping baskets for newspapers as they find the current prices too high.
The government partially subsidizes printing paper for Iranian newspapers, but there are discrimination in the interest of newspapers that are close to the government. They take the lion’s share of the subsidy and independent papers sometimes do not get any financial assistance from the government.
Alireza Bakhtiari the proprietor of Iran’s leading economic daily Donya-ye Eqtesad says independent newspapers cannot survive without help from the government as high prices threaten newspapers’ existence.
Nasser Bozorgmehr, the proprietor of Samt newspaper told reporters that “Iran has only two paper mills.” He added that “during the 46 years since the 1979 revolution no one in the government has done anything to establish a modern paper factory. So, the press depends on imports.”
Last year, the Iranian government allocated 20 million Euros for importing printing paper, but no paper has been imported as of February 2025, Sharq newspaper reported.
About the Author
