Sonoco, Caraustar raise prices for recycled board

Sonoco, based in Hartsville, South Carolina, has announced that it will raise the price for all grades of uncoated recycled paperboard (URB) products it produces by $45 per ton, effective with shipments in the United States and Canada beginning Aug. 31, 2015.

“The price increase is driven by recent increases in costs for recovered paper, chemicals and other operating costs,” says Palace Stepps, director of sales and marketing for Sonoco’s North America paper business.

Atlanta-based Caraustar Industries Inc. also announced a price increase of $45 per ton on all uncoated recycled paperboard and containerboard grades and an increase of $50 per ton on all coated recycled paperboard grades.

The company says the increase on uncoated recycled paperboard and containerboard grades will be effective starting with shipments Sept. 8, 2015, and the increase on coated recycled paperboard grades will be effective starting with shipments Aug. 24, 2015. The increases are in response to increasing costs, including fiber, chemicals and other raw materials and labor and benefits, Caraustar says.

Sonoco is one of the largest producers of uncoated recycled paperboard in the United States and Canada, producing more than 1 million tons annually from 11 mills. Globally, Sonoco has 21,000 employees working in more than 300 facilities in 34 countries.

Caraustar Industries is an integrated manufacturer of 100-percent-recycled paperboard and converted paperboard products.