Newspapers in Finland face a real risk of disappearing from newsstands as a sharp shortage of printing paper bites into the industry. The crisis is tied to a halt in imports of paper from Russia, a key supplier for many Finnish printers. Jukka Holmberg, the head of the Union of Media, shared the situation with the broadcasting portal Yle, highlighting the fragile supply chain that supports daily paper editions.
Experts warn that the production of printed newspapers could pause in the coming weeks if the disruptions persist. Around one-fifth of Finland’s newspapers have relied on Russian newsprint, making the sector particularly vulnerable. After Russia began its military operation in Ukraine, imports of Russian paper stopped altogether. Holmberg noted that the cost of newsprint has soared, rising from about EUR 390 per tonne in the European market last year to roughly EUR 670 per tonne today, a price jump with wide implications for small and medium-sized publishers and regional papers alike.
Additionally, Finland has stepped up scrutiny of maritime assets as cooperation with Western sanctions continues. Dozens of yachts were detained by customs authorities, numbering 21 in total, believed to be owned by Russian businessmen or entities sanctioned by Western measures. If investigations confirm ownership by sanctioned individuals, there is a strong likelihood that authorities will consider freezing those properties as part of ongoing sanctions enforcement.
These developments come at a moment when newsrooms across Finland and neighboring Nordic states are already grappling with changing reader habits, rising production costs, and the broader shift toward digital news consumption. The widening paper shortage compounds existing financial pressures on publishers who must balance the costs of alternative printing materials, potential layoffs, and the challenge of delivering timely local reporting. Industry analysts emphasize that resilience will depend on diversified supply chains, strategic partnerships with regional printers, and support from public policies that safeguard access to trustworthy local journalism while navigating global trade tensions and sanctions regimes (Lenta).