The article notes persistent volatility in raw material costs, including recycled fiber, pressuring packaging companies' margins. Firms are responding with pricing actions and cost reductions, which may lead to price adjustments for recycled fiber and downstream packaging.
The boxboard market saw significant pressures during 2025, driven by factors including declining raw material availability and capacity reductions. Prices for recovered fibre, one of the key raw materials for recycled boxboard products, fell to very low levels during the period. The supply side saw significant movements as several major players announced plans to close and idle capacities, leading to a decline in annual production capacities across the industry. These declines were seen across both virgin and recycled boxboard products and were part of the industry’s efforts to rationalize capacities in response to weakening demand.
The demand side saw weakening demand throughout much of the year, with domestic consumption remaining below expectations. Import volumes of recovered fibre saw declines as well, with the introduction of tariffs on recyclable material imports from key trading partners impacting cross-border trade. In India, regulatory dynamics, including the introduction of a minimum import price on virgin multi-layer paperboard and GST rate revisions, made things more complicated for procurement decisions and put significant pressure on working capital for the packaging industry.
Analyst Insight
According to Procurement Resource, looking ahead, boxboard prices are expected to stabilise gradually as supply rationalisation and recovering end-use demand begin to rebalance the market.
Related Report
Need latest Boxboard price?
Get real-time price assessments, periodic trends, forecasts and price driver insights across key global markets.
Unlock Price Insights NowOur Clients
Turn price intelligence into action with the Procurement Resource Database. Log in or subscribe to unlock live price trends, historical charts, supplier databases, cost curves, and analyst-backed insights across chemicals, agriculture, energy, packaging, and more. Use these tools to benchmark your contracts, plan budgets with confidence, and stay ahead of market moves on every product you buy.
0
+Products
0
+Regions
0
+Subscriptions
The price graph of boxboard recorded considerable fluctuations in the second half of 2024. The demand situation remained stagnant in this period, as the market was still in recovery from a prolonged inventory correction that had impacted demand in previous quarters. E-commerce activity offered a measure of support to corrugated and boxboard demand. On the supply side, consolidation among key market players continued, with mill rationalisation efforts including planned downtime and capacity reduction. This had a slightly positive impact on the supply-demand balance. Raw material costs, such as those of recovered fibre, remained high, affecting mill profitability. Market sentiment was also influenced by early discussions on import duty policy, which added a further level of complexity to market dynamics towards the close of the year.
Boxboard, also known as carton board or cardboard, is a type of paperboard characterized by its sturdy and rigid structure, typically composed of multiple layers of paper fibers. It is commonly used in packaging due to its durability, lightweight nature, and ability to be easily printed or decorated.
Boxboard comes in various grades and thicknesses to suit different applications, ranging from lightweight folding cartons to heavy-duty packaging containers. Its smooth surface provides an ideal substrate for high-quality printing, making it suitable for packaging designs and graphics. Overall, boxboard is valued for its versatility, cost-effectiveness, and eco-friendly properties in a wide range of industrial and commercial applications.
Packaging, Printing and graphics, Construction
Sappi, Stora Enso, Nippon Paper Group, Mondi, ITC Limited, International Paper
CurrencyUS$ (Data can also be provided in local currency)
Supplier Database AvailabilityYes
Customization ScopeThe report can be customized as per the requirements of the customer
Post-Sale Analyst Support360-degree analyst support after report delivery
Note: Our supplier search experts can assist your procurement teams in compiling and validating a list of suppliers indicating they have products, services, and capabilities that meet your company's needs.
Our Price Analysis Methodology
AVP - Strategy and Solutions
Leading procurement research solutions across chemicals, materials, and food & beverages, with expertise in price forecasting and market analytics.
Experience how Procurement Resource transforms raw material price data into clear, decision ready intelligence. Optimise your performance with reliable, expert market data and analysis. Schedule your demo today to experience a live walk-through where our experts will showcase interactive price charts, forecasted prices, and insights driving the prices for your key commodities, tailored to your workflows. Contact us now!
Our Team will be happy to assist you
We are just a text away
Still Need Help?
Unlock full access to Procurement Resource's price databases, interactive charts, and short-term forecasts for thousands of commodities. Elevate your sourcing decisions by comparing prices across regions, downloading historical data, and layering in analyst-backed insights, all with our flexible plans that scale as your portfolio grows.
Still have any Questions
Contact Us
Price Trend Dashboard - What's Included
Price trends across a diverse portfolio of categories and products, spanning board to niche chemicals
Coverage extendable to grade-specific chemicals based on procurement requirements
Regular price tracking supported by robust historical datasets
News, policy updates, and key market drivers impacting price movements
Short-term and long-term price outlooks and forecasts
Supply-demand dynamics and capacity-driven market analysis
Track prices, market movements, supply-demand dynamics, and industry developments across hundreds of commodities through a centralized intelligence platform built for informed procurement decisions.
Understand market fluctuations using analyst-backed forecasts, historical pricing patterns, and evolving industry trends to strengthen sourcing strategies and budget planning.
Leverage cost models, pricing benchmarks, and procurement insights to evaluate purchasing opportunities, improve negotiations, and enhance operational efficiency.
Access region-specific price trends, trade activities, capacity changes, and supply chain developments influencing commodity markets worldwide.
