Who Blinks First? The Containerboard Pricing War Is Heating Up

North America’s containerboard market is sending a message. Supply discipline may be becoming more powerful than weak demand. A new round of containerboard price increases is scheduled for September 2026, with Packaging Corporation of America announcing a $140 per ton increase, Smurfit Westrock $100 per ton, International Paper $80 per ton, and Cascades later announcing $110 per ton for linerboard and white-top linerboard and $140 per ton for medium.

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