Kudos to GNS for this advice to customers today about the challenges right now in sourcing copy paper in Australia:
Dear Customers,
GNS has been notified by Opal Australian Paper of a production issue at Opal’s Maryvale Mill, which is likely to impact Opal’s ongoing ability to supply copy paper to us. Opal’s brands include Reflex, Victory, Brilliant, Australian, Planet Ark, and most private label brands sold by independent dealers.
The production issue relates to the ability of Opal to source wood, the key input required by the Maryvale Mill to manufacture paper. VicForests, a key wood supplier to Opal, has announced that in response to mandatory injunctions issued by the Victorian Supreme Court, it will be suspending most current timber harvesting activities, at least in the short term. Opal sources 100% of its wood from third parties, including from VicForests, so the decision has had an unexpected impact on Maryvale Mill’s wood supply. Opal anticipates that this situation may extend for at least up to a couple of months.
Opal is the largest manufacturer of copy paper in Australia, so the production issues are likely to create market-wide shortages and supply constraints for several months.
As a result, and to support our customers with managed supply over the foreseeable future, effective immediately:
• GNS will move to selling all copy paper brands “on allocation”, with allocation of inventory based on customers’ historic purchase volumes over the last twelve months; and
• GNS has removed all brands of copy paper from our online site, so purchases will only be able to be made via your Customer Service contact until further notice.Until we can assure you of wider availability, we believe these measures are necessary to support an orderly and equitable market in copy paper. We are also working hard to identify cost-effective alternative sources for these ranges and will update you in due course.
Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions in relation to this matter. We appreciate this is a challenging time and thank you for your understanding.
Kind regards,
Paul Yardley | CEO
GNS Wholesale
I think the move by GNS to an allocations system for copy paper is fair.
Click here to access the ABC news story about the Maryville Mill as it provides more context for the situation.
Amazon has stock. $28.95 for a box of 2,500 sheets. For those in urgent need.