Packaging Corporation of America’s announced increase is double the typical amount, shocking industry observers. The reported action sent PCA’s — and competitors’ — stocks soaring on Friday. Packaging Corporation of America announced a $140 per ton containerboard price increase set to take effect Sept. 1, according to a Friday memo to investors from Michael Roxland, senior paper and packaging analyst at Truist Securities, citing industry contacts.  This amount is double what producers typically announce for increases, with numerous industry participants and observers calling it unprecedented and shocking.  This is PCA’s third announced containerboard increase in 2026 so far, and other top producers have previously announced similar increases at the same times. All of the companies’ previous hikes this year had been for $50 to $70 per ton.

AptarGroup, Inc. reported strong fourth quarter results due to solid operational performance driven by top and bottom line improvements. Results were driven by sales growth in pharma solutions, increased demand for closures technologies and productivity gains across the company. Reported sales increased by 1% and core sales increased by 2% due to a negative currency effect. Aptar reported net income of $101 million for the quarter, a 62% increase from the prior year. In addition, the quarterly results benefited from a lower effective tax rate. “Aptar achieved another strong quarter and year, delivering back-to-back years of double-digit earnings per share growth. For the full year, our pharma franchise grew sales 8%, propelled by brisk demand for our proprietary drug delivery systems, which grew 9% in 2024. Our closures segment also finished the year strong with solid performance and good momentum. Net income for full year 2024 grew 32% over the prior year and we ended 2024 solidly in the middle of our long-term adjusted EBITDA margin range, with significant margin expansion in our pharma and closures segments. Our beauty segment was able to improve its margin even with a challenged top line, driven by increased productivity and cost management efforts. In 2024, net cash provided by operations increased 12% along with lower capital expenditures, which generated a free cash flow increase of 40%,” said Stephan B. Tanda, Aptar President and CEO.

Quad/Graphics, Inc. is expanding its packaging operations with a new manufacturing facility in Salt Lake City, Utah. With existing packaging operations in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and Franklin, Wisconsin, Quad now has a national platform to serve packaging clients with strategically located production capabilities across the United States. In addition, the company maintains its global packaging operations in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The Salt Lake City facility is slated to be operational in the fourth quarter of 2026.The 100,000-square-foot facility in Salt Lake City is centrally located in the western U.S., with direct access to major interstate highways, facilitating rapid transportation to key markets across the region. In addition to its significant skilled labor pool, Salt Lake City is an established hub for major consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands and co-manufacturers that work with producers like Quad to print, fill and package goods on behalf of CPGs.