Iconic pencil maker hit by Russian counter-sanctions

Iconic pencil maker hit by Russian counter-sanctions

One of the world’s oldest writing and art supplies manufacturers says it has to raise prices to alleviate costs on raw materials Russia’s ban on the export of timber has forced Czech pencil manufacturer Koh-I-Noor Hardtmuth to seek new suppliers and raise prices, the company’s owner, Vlastislav Brzhiza, told newspaper Seznam Zpravy.