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.
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.
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According to Procurement Resource, linerboard prices are expected to remain firm globally as freight bottlenecks, elevated fuel costs, and constrained shipping availability continue pressuring packaging supply chains despite uneven downstream demand.
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In the second half of 2025, the linerboard market showed mixed but gradually firming trends. During the early part of H2, market conditions remained weak as demand stayed sluggish and buyers held inventories. Corrugated box shipments continued to decline, which limited immediate support for price improvement. Many buyers delayed purchases, expecting better clarity on demand and trade conditions. At the same time, export markets remained under pressure due to tariffs, especially with reduced shipments to Asia, while other regions continued to have ample alternative supply.
As the year progressed, sentiment slowly began to improve. Large-scale and permanent mill closures reduced available linerboard capacity, tightening supply conditions across North America. Producers became more disciplined with output and redirected volumes toward the domestic market. Seasonal demand linked to holiday packaging provided some support, although the pickup was slower and more uncertain than usual.
By late H2, expectations of tighter supply helped stabilize the market. While demand did not recover strongly, reduced capacity and consolidation improved operating rates. Overall, linerboard prices remained mostly steady during H2’25, with firm trends emerging toward the end of the period.
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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