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Packaging businesses are facing increased costs as soaring shipping charges send prices of many consumables, including board and labelstock, up again.

The country’s largest distributor of printable materials, Ball & Doggett, has just introduced another range of rises across its products, with Spicers set to increase its prices "imminently", and others sure to follow.

Shipping is becoming a major issue for the local economy, as capacity is constrained, and availability is dictated by spot pricing, which does not favour Australia or New Zealand. In recent weeks US traders have been outbidding everyone else, sending a significant amount of shipping capacity that would have come here over to the States instead.

Freight costs have risen by double digit percentages in just the past month, on what were already sky-high prices that have doubled, tripled or quadrupled over the past year. Local merchants are having to pay at least $3000 or $4000 more for their containers this year than they were a year ago.

Tony Bertrand, marketing manager at Ball & Doggett said, "US companies are paying top dollar, which is causing vessels to be diverted from coming from Singapore to Australia over to the States."

David Martin, CEO at Spicers, said, "It's hard to keep up with changing prices, but we can't see them going down anytime soon, rather they look set to keep rising."

Food & Drink Business

The Victorian government has invested $160,000 to support the sustainability and profitability of the state’s wine industry, matched by $240,000 from Wine Australia. The funds will help Wine Victoria to provide the wine industry with the knowledge, tools and resources needed to improve practices and outcomes.

Australian spirits producers had an outstanding showing at the 2025 International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC) in London, with top scoring producers including 30 Knots Spirits, Australian Distilling Co., Ester Distilling, Mt. Uncle Distillery, Nine Circles Distillery, and Turner Stillhouse.

The recent innovation forum hosted by the Australian Marketing Institute and research company, T Garage, examined the reality for the rapidly evolving landscape of consumer goods that innovation is now table stakes. Experts from three of Australia's Top 100 food and drink companies shared their experiences and confirmed innovation is not just a corporate strategy, but a mindset permeating personal and professional life.