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.
During Q2 2026, U.S. linerboard prices followed a fluctuating trend, strengthening in April, before stabilizing in May and June. The main driver was tighter supply following permanent containerboard capacity closures, reduced mill production and lower inventories. These cuts tightened open-market availability even though corrugated box demand remained relatively restrained, allowing producers to implement price increases without a major consumption surge. Several leading containerboard manufacturers announced further increases during June, reinforcing the firmer market direction. Cost pressure also remained important. Higher recovered corrugated container costs, diesel, freight, energy and logistics expenses increased mill operating and delivery costs, encouraging producers to protect margins through higher selling offers. Demand conditions improved somewhat as corrugated box orders strengthened during April and May, but consumer spending remained cautious and packaging volumes were not strong enough to explain the rise independently. The quarter was therefore primarily supply- and cost-driven, with disciplined production and inventory management supporting the market.
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According to Procurement Resource, linerboard prices are expected to remain firm as reduced capacity and elevated operating costs continue to support suppliers, although weak consumer demand could limit further sharp increases.
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Linerboard prices displayed mixed regional momentum during Q1’26 as North American markets gradually strengthened while Asian and European markets remained subdued amid weak manufacturing activity and cautious packaging demand. In the US, the American Forest & Paper Association reported total containerboard production declining 8% year-on-year during Q1’26, while export shipments fell 19%, reflecting reduced operating capacity and weaker trade flows. North American producers benefited from supply tightening after nearly 10% of regional production capacity was removed in 2025, supporting attempts to stabilize linerboard pricing despite sluggish consumption. In Asia and Europe, weak industrial packaging demand and discounted imports weighed on market sentiment. The Iran war and Strait of Hormuz disruption further intensified freight volatility, with Reuters reporting nearly 10% of the global container fleet caught in shipping congestion around Hormuz, increasing freight and insurance costs globally. Rising logistics costs affected recovered paper movement and container availability, while downstream corrugated box buyers delayed purchases due to uncertain trade conditions.
Linerboard is a grade of containerboard or paperboard mainly employed to make corrugated containers without any corrugating medium. It is made via the Kraft paper-making process using wood fibre. It has wide application across the packaging sector in many industries.
Used to make corrugated paper box cartons, folding cartons, books and stationary, interior doors, flooring, board games displays, and graphical displays.
Paperboard
Pratt Industries, Sonoco Products Company, Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget, Oji Fibre Solutions (NZ) Ltd, Zhejiang Jingxing, Ji'an Group, Lee and Man, Zhejiang Rongsheng, Smurfit Kappa Group, Thai Paper Mill Co, International Paper, Universal Pulp and Paper, Mondi Group Plc, DS Smith Plc, Georgia-Pacific LLC, WestRock Company, KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation
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Natural linerboard is produced from softwood trees through a series of steps. The trees are chopped into logs, which are then debarked and further chopped into wood chips. The wood chips are transformed into pulp by removing lignin through mechanical or chemical processes. The resulting pulp is washed, sprayed onto a mesh fabric, and dried to form paper, which is then wrapped around reels and transported to corrugator plants to create corrugated boxes of various designs.
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This report provides the cost structure of paper cups by pulping, bleaching, and heating processes.
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