Analysts predict that price increases will continue into the New Year, along with the introduction of new hot topics such as tariffs.
Certain trends in the containerboard industry, such as price rises, are likely to continue into 2025. However, other problems, such as new tariff threats, are emerging as rivals for top focus in the coming year.
Packaging Corporation of America became the first major fiber board producer to disclose these increases for 2025 last month. Soon after, International Paper, Georgia-Pacific, Smurfit Westrock, Pratt Industries, and Cascades all raised their prices, and Greif joined in this month.
In December, at least five domestic manufacturers of uncoated freesheet— Domtar, PCA, Phoenix Paper, Sustana and Sylvamo — announced January increases of about 5-10%, according to market analysts.
Many containerboard makers attempted to raise the cost of various products at least twice in 2024. Some industry watchers suggested that the economic situation, particularly lagging demand, did not sustain a single rise this year, let alone several. However, following attempts were mostly driven by producers trying again when leading third-party index Fastmarkets RISI indicated that the market did not accept the full increases that producers had stated.
CMI Research: Key Corrugated Packaging Market Insights
According to Coherent Market Insights (CMI), the corrugated packaging market is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 4.2% between 2024 and 2031, driven by rising demand from industries such as food & beverages and personal care. The market, which was valued at approximately US$ 152.17 billion in 2024, is forecasted to exceed US$ 202.95 billion by 2031.
For decades, North America has dominated the worldwide corrugated packaging industry, with an expected 34.5% share in 2024. The boom in e-commerce has greatly increased demand for corrugated packaging. Online merchants want long-lasting, lightweight, and cost-effective solutions for secure product distribution.
Analyst Opinion: Strategic Role in Corrugated Packaging Market Growth
Kalpesh Gharte, a senior consultant, thinks the market for corrugated packaging has a lot of room to grow. Asia Pacific is predicted to overtake North America as the region with the quickest rate of growth. The growing e-commerce sector and the region's other end-use industries, including food and beverage, personal care, healthcare, and retail, are to blame for this.
Conclusion: Business Takeaways
Corrugated packaging provides organizations with affordable, environmentally friendly, and long-lasting solutions. It improves product safety, lowers shipping costs, and promotes eco-friendly initiatives. By embracing innovative designs and materials, companies can improve brand image, streamline logistics, and meet growing consumer demand for sustainability.
