Smurfit Westrock and International Paper announce new containerboard price increases in North America

Smurfit Westrock and International Paper have announced new price increases for containerboard in North America, with the adjustments set to take effect on Sept. 1, according to investor notes released Tuesday by Michael Roxland, senior paper and packaging analyst at Truist Securities. The information is based on industry contacts and data from Fastmarkets RISI.

International Paper plans to increase containerboard prices by $80 per ton, while Smurfit Westrock will implement a $100-per-ton increase for both containerboard and kraft paper. According to the report, Smurfit Westrock attributed the decision to sustained demand, limited supply across its mill network and continued cost pressures.

The announcements come after Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) disclosed on Friday that it would raise containerboard prices by $140 per ton. The increase, described by industry observers as unprecedented due to its size, marked the beginning of the third round of containerboard price increases announced by producers in 2026. PCA, International Paper and Smurfit Westrock are the three largest containerboard manufacturers in North America.

Market analysts had anticipated that additional producers would introduce price increases following PCA’s announcement, although many expected lower adjustments than the $140-per-ton increase. According to Truist, other manufacturers are likely to announce similar pricing actions in the coming weeks.

Analysts said International Paper’s increase, like PCA’s, reflects higher production costs, including recycled fiber, freight and electricity. They also pointed to improving market demand and tighter supply resulting from mill closures announced during 2025, which collectively represented nearly 10% of North American containerboard production capacity.

 

International Paper has also continued to reduce capacity in 2026. On July 16, the company announced plans to close its box plant in Carrollton, Texas. Earlier that month, it temporarily idled its containerboard mill in Pine Hill, Alabama, after storm-related roof damage. In February, the company revealed it would shut its container plant in Georgetown, South Carolina, and in January it filed notice with the state of Washington regarding the closure of its Union Gap facility.

Beyond containerboard, Roxland reported that several North American and European producers are also increasing prices for certain boxboard grades, including solid bleached sulfate (SBS) and folding boxboard (FBB), based on information from Fastmarkets RISI.

Smurfit Westrock notified customers on July 7 that prices for SBS folding carton, commercial print and foodservice grades would increase by 4% to 6% beginning Aug. 10. Sappi later announced comparable adjustments of 4% to 6% across all boxboard grades, effective Aug. 20. Manchester Industries, a Clearwater Paper subsidiary, introduced a 5% increase for SBS and FBB products starting Aug. 24. Finnish producer Metsä Board also confirmed price increases of 4% to 6% for fresh-fiber FBB and barrier products in the Americas, effective Sept. 1.

Despite these pricing actions, the SBS market continues to face oversupply, prompting manufacturers to adjust production capacity. In April, Clearwater Paper announced a restructuring of its SBS mill in Cypress Bend, Arkansas, reducing output by half and cutting approximately 20% of its workforce. Earlier in the year, in February, Smurfit Westrock confirmed the permanent shutdown of one of the paper machines at its SBS mill in La Tuque, Quebec.