Energy cost surge threatens toilet roll and food packaging production
Toilet paper and food packaging could be hit by soaring energy costs as firms restrict production to protect their finances, industry bosses have warned.
The chief of the Confederation of Paper Industries called for a "temporary winter cost containment measure" to help companies in the sector with costs going "through the roof ".
And the UK'S ceramics sector said some businesses could be forced to shut down production due to high energy costs.
The warnings came after wholesale gas prices surged to a record high on Wednesday, although they dropped back after Russian President Vladimir Putin said the country would stabilise the market.
Andrew Large, directorgeneral at the Confederation of Paper Industries, said its members are being "affected very, very severely" by the cost increases. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "They're seeing their costs go up through the roof.
"It's damaging their profitability and in some cases it's causing them to manage their production rates so as not to expose themselves to the very, very highest costs."
He said there is no cap on business energy costs and urged a "temporary winter cost containment measure to try and put a lid on those costs so that these very, very important industries for British society are going to be able to continue to operate".
Mr Large said the cost rises were impacting a variety of important sectors, including food packaging, toilet tissue and the production of sterile medical packaging.
Laura Cohen, chief executive of the British Ceramic Confederation, told the BBC that energy prices are affecting the viability of firms.
She said: "As the high pricing extends, more members are likely to be forced to stop production due to uneconomically higher energy costs.
"But we're also concerned the prices reflect the market's views about the physical availability of gas over the winter.
"In the event of national supply shortfall, our members are near the front of the queue to be forced off the gas network while households are last, and
this can happen at very short notice.
"A forced quick shutdown runs a very high risk of severe damage to brick kilns, which
can be 100 metres long, operating over 1,000C, and that can threaten business viability."