Independent packaging association AICC has objected to the latest containerboard price rise announcements, saying that the “increases are without merit”.
The group said there have been three separate price rise announcements from the main containerboard producers within five months.
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The latest came from PCA, which announced a $140/tonne increase for liner and medium from 1 September 2026.
International Paper set out an $80/tonne rise for the same date while Smurfit Westrock announced a $100/tonne increase.
AICC noted that the three latest announcements were made within a three-day period.
In its statement, the association said the hikes are not supported by current raw material costs or wider economic data.
The association highlighted that producers have pointed to economic pressures, high operating rates and factors such as inflation, fuel, labour and insurance, as well as tight supply to justify the increase.
However, AICC said it is “skeptical” of those explanations in the present containerboard and corrugated market.
It argued that the moves may instead point to a “small group of producers having market dominance”.
According to AICC, PCA, Smurfit Westrock and International Paper together account for about 63% of the containerboard and linerboard supply market.
It said PCA is 95% vertically integrated, meaning only 5% of its mill capacity is sold on the open market.
International Paper and Smurfit Westrock have significant open-market sales, although AICC said independent operators represent only 10% to 12% of the market.
The association also outlined producers’ prices have increased over the past five years in down market, and that the announced hikes disproportionately affect independent box manufacturers.
AICC said three price rises in one year are “unusual, but not unprecedented” pointing to 1994 and 2010.
It said conditions in those years were more severe and unpredictable.
In 1994, financial markets were in turmoil after the US Federal Reserve raised interest rates sharply, leading to a major global bond market sell-off. In 2010, economies were still emerging from the effects of the 2007–2009 recession and a slow recovery.
The association said that, even so, the increases announced this year are larger than those seen in either of those years.
AICC further said none of the three increases appears to be linked to box demand, which it said is currently at 2016 levels.
