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Since January, most paper companies have raised prices at least twice, believing they see a demand-supply balance returning and imports getting costlier. Prices of most varieties have gone up by three to four per cent; over a year, by eight per cent, on average.A higher price for wood pulp globally has had a big role in making imported paper costlier. The price has risen in three months by about 20 per cent, to around $600 a tonne. Said an official from a top-grade mill, "Indian companies are less dependent on imported wood pulp; they have their own domestic arrangement."Most paper companies did well in the December quarter, on revenue and profit. Expectations are higher for the March quarter; with the demand season for education books also having started. And, more increase is expected in the price of imported paper. Since January, the index of paper companies' share price has outperformed the benchmark Sensex pn the BSE exchange."Paper companies have seen good growth following ...