Cardboard Price Trend Analysis 2026: Market Insights, Historical Prices, Supply Demand Analysis, Latest News & Price Drivers

• Global cardboard prices trended higher through Q2'26 as producers pushed multiple price-increase rounds despite softer underlying order volumes.
• Feedstock effect: tightening recovered fiber and virgin pulp supply, plus permanent mill capacity closures, squeezed linerboard and containerboard availability across North America.
• Downstream demand stayed soft, US containerboard production fell 8% y/y in Q1'26, yet producers pushed hikes through as tight capacity outweighed muted orders.

The average price of cardboard in the Chinese markets was around 615 USD/MT (EXW) in the last month of Q2'26. During the quarter, domestic manufacturers raised prices for both white and corrugated varieties, which kept the market in the slightly higher level. In the United States, the monthly average cardboard price was approx. 813 USD/MT (CIF) in June, where mills used shrinking capacity, roughly 10% of North American containerboard capacity was permanently retired in 2025, to keep pushing price-increase letters through; thinner supply, not stronger orders, did the work of holding prices up, and order backlogs lengthened as buyers booked ahead to secure material. Germany followed a similar path, averaging 811 USD/MT (CIF) in the last month of the quarter, as European mills passed rising energy and input costs straight into cardboard pricing while regional supply stayed tight. In the abovementioned regions, the converters and box manufacturers accepted the price increases to the extent as there was limited alternative available during the time, but softer end demand prevented aggressive pricing by the manufacturers.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, cardboard prices are likely to stay firm to modestly higher into Q3'26 as capacity remains tight, though any easing in mill supply could slow the pace of increases.