Mondi Closes Factories and Raises Prices

Apr 24, 2026, 07:07
A2

Mondi Closes Factories and Raises Prices

Introduction

Mondi is a company that makes paper and packaging. It says costs are going up because of the war in the Middle East. So, Mondi is closing some factories and raising prices.

Main Body

Mondi will close factories in Hungary, Poland, and Germany. It will also close factories in Turkey and other places in Germany. The company will cut 450 jobs in 2026. Mondi has about 24,000 workers in more than 30 countries. One factory is in Birmingham. The company says business is hard in 2026. Costs for energy, materials, and transport are higher. Mondi is raising prices to pay for these costs. The full effect of the price rises will come later in 2026. Mondi made less money this year. Its earnings fell by 27% to €212 million. The company''s share price went down by 5% on Friday. The boss of Mondi, Andrew King, says the company will work hard to manage costs and stay strong.

Conclusion

Mondi is closing factories and raising prices to deal with higher costs and lower earnings. The full effect of the price changes will come later this year.

Vocabulary Learning

close
To stop a business or factory from working.關閉（停止營業或工廠運作）
Example:The company will close two factories next month.
cost
The money you need to pay for something.成本（需要支付的錢）
Example:The cost of food is going up.
job
Work that a person does to earn money.工作（賺錢的工作）
Example:She has a job in a hospital.
money
Coins or paper used to buy things.錢（用來買東西的硬幣或紙幣）
Example:I need money to buy a ticket.
raise
To make something higher or more.提高（使更高或更多）
Example:The store will raise the price of bread.

Sentence Learning

Mondi is a company that makes paper and packaging.
This sentence uses the present simple tense to describe a fact. 'That' connects the main idea to more information.本句使用現在簡單式來描述一個事實。'That' 用來連接主要概念與更多資訊。
It says costs are going up because of the war in the Middle East.
This sentence uses the present continuous tense 'are going up' to show a continuing change. 'Because of' gives the reason.本句使用現在進行式 'are going up' 來表示一個持續的變化。'Because of' 提供了原因。
Mondi will close factories in Hungary, Poland, and Germany.
This sentence uses 'will' to talk about a future action. The list of countries shows where the factories are.本句使用 'will' 來談論未來的行動。列出的國家顯示了工廠的位置。
The company will cut 450 jobs in 2026.
This sentence uses 'will' for a future plan. 'Cut 450 jobs' means to reduce the number of workers.本句使用 'will' 表示未來的計劃。'Cut 450 jobs' 意思是減少員工人數。
Mondi is raising prices to pay for these costs.
This sentence uses the present continuous 'is raising' for an action happening now. 'To pay for' shows the purpose of the action.本句使用現在進行式 'is raising' 來表示正在進行的動作。'To pay for' 說明了這個動作的目的。
B2

Mondi Implements Price Increases and Factory Closures in Response to Cost Pressures from Middle East Conflict

Introduction

Paper and packaging firm Mondi has announced a series of cost-cutting measures, including factory closures and job reductions across Europe, while simultaneously raising prices to counteract rising operational expenses linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Main Body

Mondi, headquartered in Weybridge, Surrey, reported that it will eliminate 450 positions during 2026. This decision follows earlier announcements regarding the closure of three facilities in Hungary, Poland, and Germany. These closures are in addition to three other factory shutdowns previously disclosed in Turkey, Hungary, and Germany. The company characterized these actions as targeted efforts to enhance its competitive position and reduce expenditures. Mondi operates approximately 24,000 employees across more than 100 production sites in over 30 countries, including a facility in Birmingham. The firm stated that trading conditions remained challenging during the first quarter of 2026. To address increased costs for energy, raw materials, and logistics—attributed to the Middle East conflict and rising oil and energy prices—Mondi is implementing price increases. The company acknowledged a customary delay before these price adjustments fully materialize, with the full impact anticipated in the third quarter of 2026. In its trading update, Mondi reported a 27% year-on-year decline in underlying earnings, which fell to €212 million (£184 million), a decrease from the €214 million (£186 million) recorded in the preceding quarter. Following the announcement, the company''s share price experienced a 5% decline in early trading on Friday. Chief Executive Andrew King stated that despite an uncertain outlook, the company remains focused on operational excellence, cost and margin discipline, production footprint optimization, and cash flow management, expressing confidence in the company''s ability to navigate current challenges.

Conclusion

Mondi is currently executing a dual strategy of factory closures and price increases to manage rising costs and declining earnings, with the full financial effects of its pricing actions expected later in the year.

Vocabulary Learning

cost-cutting measures
Actions taken to reduce expenses and improve financial efficiency.削減成本的措施，旨在減少開支並提高財務效率。
Example:The company announced cost-cutting measures, including factory closures and job reductions.
counteract
To act against something in order to reduce its effect or neutralize it.對抗；抵消；減弱…的影響。
Example:Mondi is raising prices to counteract rising operational expenses.
margin discipline
The practice of strictly controlling profit margins to ensure profitability and efficiency.利潤率紀律；嚴格控制利潤率以確保盈利和效率的做法。
Example:The CEO emphasized the importance of cost and margin discipline during the downturn.
navigate challenges
To successfully manage or find a way through difficult situations.應對挑戰；成功處理或找到解決困難情況的方法。
Example:The management expressed confidence in the company's ability to navigate current challenges.
year-on-year
Comparing a period (e.g., a quarter) with the same period one year earlier.與去年同期相比的；按年計算的。
Example:The company reported a 27% year-on-year decline in underlying earnings.

Sentence Learning

Paper and packaging firm Mondi has announced a series of cost-cutting measures, including factory closures and job reductions across Europe, while simultaneously raising prices to counteract rising operational expenses linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
This sentence uses 'while simultaneously' to show two actions happening at the same time. It also uses a past participle phrase 'linked to' to give extra information about the expenses.這個句子使用 'while simultaneously' 來表示兩個同時發生的動作，並使用過去分詞短語 'linked to' 來補充說明費用的原因。
Mondi, headquartered in Weybridge, Surrey, reported that it will eliminate 450 positions during 2026.
This sentence uses a non-defining relative clause 'headquartered in Weybridge, Surrey' to give extra information about Mondi. The main clause uses 'reported that' to introduce reported speech.這個句子使用非限制性關係從句 'headquartered in Weybridge, Surrey' 來補充說明 Mondi 的資訊，主句使用 'reported that' 引入間接引語。
To address increased costs for energy, raw materials, and logistics—attributed to the Middle East conflict and rising oil and energy prices—Mondi is implementing price increases.
This sentence uses an infinitive of purpose 'To address' to explain why Mondi is acting. It also uses a passive structure 'attributed to' to show the cause of the cost increases.這個句子使用不定式 'To address' 來說明 Mondi 採取行動的目的，並使用被動結構 'attributed to' 來顯示成本增加的原因。
The company acknowledged a customary delay before these price adjustments fully materialize, with the full impact anticipated in the third quarter of 2026.
This sentence uses 'with + noun + past participle' ('with the full impact anticipated') to add a related detail about the timing. This structure is common for formal reporting.這個句子使用 'with + 名詞 + 過去分詞'（'with the full impact anticipated'）來補充關於時間的細節，這種結構在正式報導中很常見。
Chief Executive Andrew King stated that despite an uncertain outlook, the company remains focused on operational excellence, cost and margin discipline, production footprint optimization, and cash flow management, expressing confidence in the company's ability to navigate current challenges.
This sentence uses 'despite' to show contrast between the uncertain outlook and the company's focus. It also uses a present participle phrase 'expressing confidence' to add a simultaneous action.這個句子使用 'despite' 來顯示不確定的前景與公司專注點之間的對比，並使用現在分詞短語 'expressing confidence' 來添加同時發生的動作。
C2

Mondi Implements Price Increases and Factory Closures in Response to Cost Pressures from Middle East Conflict

Introduction

Paper and packaging firm Mondi has announced a series of cost-cutting measures, including factory closures and job reductions across Europe, while simultaneously raising prices to counteract rising operational expenses linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Main Body

Mondi, headquartered in Weybridge, Surrey, reported that it will eliminate 450 positions during 2026. This decision follows earlier announcements regarding the closure of three facilities in Hungary, Poland, and Germany. These closures are in addition to three other factory shutdowns previously disclosed in Turkey, Hungary, and Germany. The company characterized these actions as targeted efforts to enhance its competitive position and reduce expenditures. Mondi operates approximately 24,000 employees across more than 100 production sites in over 30 countries, including a facility in Birmingham. The firm stated that trading conditions remained challenging during the first quarter of 2026. To address increased costs for energy, raw materials, and logistics—attributed to the Middle East conflict and rising oil and energy prices—Mondi is implementing price increases. The company acknowledged a customary delay before these price adjustments fully materialize, with the full impact anticipated in the third quarter of 2026. In its trading update, Mondi reported a 27% year-on-year decline in underlying earnings, which fell to €212 million (£184 million), a decrease from the €214 million (£186 million) recorded in the preceding quarter. Following the announcement, the company''s share price experienced a 5% decline in early trading on Friday. Chief Executive Andrew King stated that despite an uncertain outlook, the company remains focused on operational excellence, cost and margin discipline, production footprint optimization, and cash flow management, expressing confidence in the company''s ability to navigate current challenges.

Conclusion

Mondi is currently executing a dual strategy of factory closures and price increases to manage rising costs and declining earnings, with the full financial effects of its pricing actions expected later in the year.

Vocabulary Learning

footprint
The area or scope of something, especially the physical or operational presence of a business; here, 'production footprint' refers to the network and capacity of manufacturing sites.足跡；業務版圖；生產佈局。
Example:The company remains focused on operational excellence, cost and margin discipline, production footprint optimization, and cash flow management.
materialize
To become actual or real; to take effect or be realized.實現；成為現實；生效。
Example:The company acknowledged a customary delay before these price adjustments fully materialize, with the full impact anticipated in the third quarter of 2026.
navigate
To steer or manage a course through a difficult or complex situation.應對；駕馭；順利通過（困境）。
Example:Andrew King expressed confidence in the company's ability to navigate current challenges.
optimization
The action of making the best or most effective use of a resource or situation.優化；最佳化。
Example:Chief Executive Andrew King stated that despite an uncertain outlook, the company remains focused on operational excellence, cost and margin discipline, production footprint optimization, and cash flow management.
underlying earnings
A measure of a company's profitability that excludes one-time or irregular items to show core business performance.基本盈利；核心盈利（剔除一次性項目的盈利指標）。
Example:In its trading update, Mondi reported a 27% year-on-year decline in underlying earnings, which fell to €212 million.

Sentence Learning

To address increased costs for energy, raw materials, and logistics—attributed to the Middle East conflict and rising oil and energy prices—Mondi is implementing price increases.
The sentence features a fronted infinitive of purpose ('To address...') and an embedded reduced relative clause ('attributed to...'), which modifies the noun phrase 'increased costs'. This structure creates high lexical density and a formal, compressed style.句子以表目的的不定式短語（「To address...」）開首，並嵌入了一個簡化關係從句（「attributed to...」），用以修飾名詞短語「increased costs」。此結構營造出高詞彙密度和正式、簡潔的風格。
Mondi, headquartered in Weybridge, Surrey, reported that it will eliminate 450 positions during 2026.
The main clause contains a non-restrictive reduced relative clause ('headquartered in Weybridge, Surrey') set off by commas, which provides additional information about the subject without defining it. This is a hallmark of advanced nominal modification.主句包含一個以逗號分隔的非限制性簡化關係從句（「headquartered in Weybridge, Surrey」），為主語提供附加信息而非定義。這是高級名詞修飾的典型特徵。
The company acknowledged a customary delay before these price adjustments fully materialize, with the full impact anticipated in the third quarter of 2026.
This sentence uses an absolute construction ('with the full impact anticipated...') to express a concomitant circumstance. This participial phrase adds complexity and conciseness, typical of formal written English.此句使用了獨立結構（「with the full impact anticipated...」）來表達伴隨情況。這個分詞短語增加了句子的複雜性和簡潔性，是正式書面英語的典型用法。
Chief Executive Andrew King stated that despite an uncertain outlook, the company remains focused on operational excellence, cost and margin discipline, production footprint optimization, and cash flow management, expressing confidence in the company's ability to navigate current challenges.
The sentence contains a complex subordinate clause ('that despite an uncertain outlook...') with a fronted concessive prepositional phrase ('despite an uncertain outlook'), followed by a series of parallel noun phrases and a present participial phrase ('expressing confidence...') that modifies the main clause, adding a layer of resultative meaning.句子包含一個複雜的從句（「that despite an uncertain outlook...」），其中有一個前置的讓步介詞短語（「despite an uncertain outlook」），其後接一系列並列名詞短語和一個現在分詞短語（「expressing confidence...」），該分詞短語修飾主句，增添了結果意義的層次。
Following the announcement, the company's share price experienced a 5% decline in early trading on Friday.
The sentence begins with a fronted participial phrase ('Following the announcement'), which functions as a temporal adverbial. This fronting creates a formal, journalistic tone and emphasizes the sequence of events.句子以一個前置的分詞短語（「Following the announcement」）開頭，充當時間狀語。這種前置手法營造了正式的新聞語調，並強調了事件的先後順序。