Corrugated Medium Prices

Corrugated Medium Prices December 2023

In the fourth quarter of 2023, the price of the corrugated medium in the United States reached 1087 USD/MT by December. Similarly, in China, the corrugated medium prices hit 419 USD/MT in the same month. Whereas, Germany also witnessed corrugated medium prices reaching 1017 USD/MT during Q4 2023.

Corrugated Medium Price Trend, Market Analysis, and News

IMARC's latest publication, “Corrugated Medium Pricing Report 2024: Price Trend, Chart, Market Analysis, News, Demand, Historical and Forecast Data,” presents a detailed examination of the corrugated medium market, providing insights into both global and regional trends that are shaping prices. This report delves into the spot price of corrugated medium at major ports and analyzes the composition of prices, including FOB and CIF terms. It also presents a detailed corrugated medium price trend analysis by region, covering North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East and Africa. The factors affecting corrugated medium pricing, such as the dynamics of supply and demand, geopolitical influences, and sector-specific developments, are thoroughly explored. This comprehensive report helps stakeholders stay informed with the latest market news, regulatory updates, and technological progress, facilitating informed strategic decision-making and forecasting.

Corrugated Medium Market Analysis

The global corrugated medium market size reached US$ 70.87 Billion in 2023. By 2032, IMARC Group expects the market to reach US$ 112.8 Billion, at a projected CAGR of 5.30% during 2023-2032.

• The growth of the corrugated medium market is dominated primarily by the rapid development of the online shopping business. With the increase in the trend of online shopping across the world, the need for effective packaging materials such as corrugated mediums to protect goods being transported to end users has risen. As reported by the U.S Census Bureau, e-commerce sales in the United States reached $ 792 billion by the end of 2020, and therefore underscoring the need of marketing packaging. Thus, corrugated medium expands its uses and remains a preferred material in e-commerce packaging due to its strength, cushioning nature, and being recyclable. This trend is anticipated to continue due to the increasing preference for online purchases to get goods, thereby creating a steady market for corrugated medium across the globe.
• Sustainability has proven to be a major influential factor influencing the corrugated medium market. The governments are enforcing strict policies that limit the production of products with adverse effects on the environment leading to industries' use of environmentally friendly goodies such as recyclable and biodegradable packaging. In the EU, strategies such as the Circular Economy Action Plan work on enhancing the recycling proportion concerning the usage of environmentally sustainable packaging materials. There are also changing consumer preferences that affect buying behavior; there is an increasing focus on product sustainability. The Environmental Protection Agency reported a commendable 32.1% recycling rate for corrugated boxes in the United States in 2020, underscoring the industry's commitment to sustainability. While companies continue to work towards achieving such high regulatory and consumer standards, the corrugated medium as an environmentally friendly packaging material will find more demand leading to the growth of the market.
• The use of corrugated medium is further supported by the industrial and agricultural segments as they seek effective packaging media for various shipping or storage needs. The United States Department of Agriculture expects a constant expansion in the production, of food, around the globe, farmers and food processors require high-quality packaging material to transport perishable foods. Further, automotive and electronics industries use corrugated medium for packaging components and for transporting finished goods. This steady demand is further explained by increasing volumes of exports and imports in the world economy as well as increasing economic growth, which creates the need for more economical and long-lasting packaging. With the growth and development of these sectors and the products they offer, there is an increased call for the corrugated medium as a key player in ensuring that logistics and supply chain solutions continue to develop at a commercial level across the globe.

Corrugated Medium News

The report covers the latest developments, updates, and trends impacting the price of corrugated medium, providing stakeholders with timely and relevant information. This segment covers a wide array of news items, including the inauguration of new production facilities, technological innovations, strategic market expansions by key industry players, and significant mergers and acquisitions that impact the corrugated medium price trend.

Latest developments in the corrugated medium industry:

• April 12, 2024: Packaging distribution giant Zeus has hit the acquisition trail, acquiring the Weedon Group, one of the UK’s largest independent integrated corrugated manufacturers, for an undisclosed fee.
• June 18, 2024: Newtown Square, Pennsylvania based SupplyOne, Inc., one of the largest independent suppliers of corrugated and value-added packaging products, equipment, and services in North America, announced that it has expanded its footprint to the West Coast with the acquisition of Columbia Corrugated Box Company, Inc (CCB). CCB manufactures custom corrugated solutions, protective packaging, and high-resolution printed packaging solutions in the Pacific Northwest.
• 17 July 2023: FBA worked with the Corrugated Packaging Alliance (CPA) to communicate the corrugated industry’s latest Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). This report showed improvements made from 2014 – 2020 to reduce the environmental impact of corrugated products, including the extraction of raw materials, manufacturing, distribution, and end of life. 

Product Description

Corrugated medium is one of the constituents of corrugated fiberboard, which is an extensively utilizable packaging material. It is made of fluted paper in between two flat linerboards that make it strong, a cushion to shape the packaging boxes. The flutes help to determine the thickness and specific performances of the fiberboard intermediate layers which are also known as the linerboards; These flutes are in various profiles including A, B, C E, and F. This material is appreciated due to their low density, meaning that its transportation cost is affordable and shocks during transportation are absorbed. Corrugated medium is also almost fully recyclable the environment is therefore favorable to the use of this type of packaging over the other types. This versatility enables it to be tailored to meet as many packaging needs as possible occurring across the different sectors such as e-commerce, retailing, food and beverages, electronics, and automobile industries. Apart from that, corrugated medium plays a role in branding to an extent as it provides areas that can be printed with logos, designs, and product details. This makes it to be widely used due to its cost-effectiveness, sustainability and reliability in the fulfillment of packaging requirements across the globe.

Regional Coverage

The report provides a detailed analysis of the market across different regions, each with unique pricing dynamics influenced by localized market conditions, supply chain intricacies, and geopolitical factors. This includes price trends, price forecast and supply and demand trends for each region, along with spot prices by major ports. The report also provides coverage of FOB and CIF prices, as well as the key factors influencing the corrugated medium price trend.

Global Corrugated Medium Price

The report offers a holistic view of the global corrugated medium pricing trends in the form of corrugated medium price charts, reflecting the worldwide interplay of supply-demand balances, international trade policies, and overarching economic factors that shape the market on a macro level. This comprehensive analysis not only highlights current price levels but also provides insights into historical price of corrugated medium, enabling stakeholders to understand past fluctuations and their underlying causes. The report also delves into price forecast models, projecting future price movements based on a variety of indicators such as expected changes in supply chain dynamics, anticipated policy shifts, and emerging market trends. By examining these factors, the report equips industry participants with the necessary tools to make informed strategic decisions, manage risks, and capitalize on market opportunities. Furthermore, it includes a detailed corrugated medium demand analysis, breaking down regional variations and identifying key drivers specific to each geographic market, thus offering a nuanced understanding of the global pricing landscape.

Europe Corrugated Medium Price

European corrugated medium prices are examined, highlighting the market-specific influences in the region, such as stringent environmental regulations, the competitive landscape, and import-export imbalances that significantly affect pricing structures.

Detailed price information for corrugated medium can also be provided for an extensive list of European countries.

North America Corrugated Medium Price

The analysis of corrugated medium prices in North America delves into the regional industry dynamics, encompassing the impact of local production and the trade flows between North America and other significant global markets.

Specific corrugated medium historical data within the United States and Canada can also be provided.

Middle East and Africa Corrugated Medium Price

The report explores the corrugated medium pricing trends in the Middle East and Africa, considering factors like the availability of natural resources, and geopolitical tensions that uniquely influence market prices.

Region-wise data and information on specific countries within these regions can also be provided.

Asia Pacific Corrugated Medium Price

The corrugated medium pricing trends in the Asia Pacific are examined, reflecting the role of the region as a major global producer and consumer of agricultural products, with price dynamics heavily influenced by supply chain efficiencies, regional demand surges, and policy shifts in major economies.

This corrugated medium price analysis can be expanded to include a comprehensive list of countries within the region.

Latin America Corrugated Medium Price

The analysis of corrugated medium prices in Latin America provides a detailed overview, reflecting the unique market dynamics in the region influenced by economic policies, agricultural output, and trade frameworks.

This comprehensive review can be extended to include specific countries within Latin America.

Report Coverage

Key Benefits for Stakeholders:

• IMARC’s report presents a detailed analysis of corrugated medium pricing, covering global and regional trends, spot prices at key ports, and a breakdown of FOB and CIF prices.
• The study examines factors affecting corrugated medium price trend, including input costs, supply-demand shifts, and geopolitical impacts, offering insights for informed decision-making.
• The competitive landscape review equips stakeholders with crucial insights into the latest market news, regulatory changes, and technological advancements, ensuring a well-rounded, strategic overview for forecasting and planning.
• IMARC offers various subscription options, including monthly, quarterly, and biannual updates, allowing clients to stay informed with the latest market trends, ongoing developments, and comprehensive market insights. The corrugated medium price charts ensure our clients remain at the forefront of the industry.