Paper/Forest Products: May Price Check: C’board supply tightening ahead of June increases

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Paper/Forest Products: May Price Check: C’board supply tightening ahead of June increases

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Paper/Forest Products

May Price Check: C’board supply tightening

ahead of June increases

Industry Overview

C'board flat; supply tight w/ integrateds in open market 15 May 2026

Fastmarkets RISI's (RISI) Pulp & Paper Week (PPW) published its May price review for Equity

paperboard. Overall, containerboard prices were flat domestically for both linerboard and United States

medium, in line with our expectations. The article notes that overall box demand was Paper/Forest Products

steady with April’s uptick continuing into May. On the supply side, the market appears

tight with some buyers struggling to meet needs, including larger integrated producers

in the open market. In one situation, a contact of RISI’s told of a customer being quoted

the announced June increase in order to secure supply quickly. Another one of RISI’s George L. Staphos

contacts at a large producer suggested March’s paper price increases will be fully ResearchBofAS Analyst

integrated in the box business by the end of June, as companies look to cover rising +1 646 855 4495

george.l.staphos@bofa.com

costs. Looking ahead, it appears that most contacts expect the June increases to stick

based on cost inflation that has outpaced the year’s first hikes. BradleyResearchBarton,Analyst CFA

BofAS

Export prices continue upward trend; positive indicator +1bradley.barton2@bofa.com646 556 2909

Meantime, export pricing was up $40/metric tonne (MT) to Central/South America (CSA) Reinhardt van der Walt >>

at $650/MT, and up $20/MT to China and Mexico at $595/MT, and $695/MT, Research Analyst

respectively. Lastly, prices were up €10/MT for EU exports at €620/MT, and up in dollar MLI+44 (UK)20 7995 9270