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Pricing actions dominate quarterly fiber discussions

Pricing proved to be a central topic during major fiber companies’ second-quarter earnings calls. Executives frequently cited higher transportation and raw material costs as reasons for significant price hikes from companies including Packaging Corporation of America, Smurfit Westrock and others, which have since prompted some blowback. Containerboard producers also noted signs of improving supply and demand dynamics.

Clearwater Paper’s Q2 shipment volumes were up 8% year over year. The company reduced net debt by $59 million in the quarter. The Spokane, Washington-based company recently announced its second $60 per ton price increase of 2026 for all products. Executives expect it will take a couple quarters for that to be recognized in Fastmarkets RISI’s index.

For Finland-based Huhtamaki, which has 18 locations across North America, overall net sales in Q2 were relatively flat year over year at 1 billion euros. But North American net sales decreased by nearly 10% year over year. Adjusted EBITDA was down 2% year over year to 151.7 million euros.

The flexible packaging segment was a leader for the company, with a nearly 11% year-over-year increase in net sales. Fiber packaging net sales increased 6.7% year over year.

U.K.-based Mondi, which has 13 locations across North America, offered a look at its first half of the year, showing a 1.7% increase in revenue compared with the first half of 2025. Revenue for the corrugated packaging segment came in at 1.98 billion euros, a 4.4% year-over-year increase, while the flexible packaging segment charted a 1.1% year-over-year decrease to just over 2 billion euros.

2026 is a transition year,” said Sylvamo CEO John Sims during an Aug. 7 earnings call. The Memphis, Tennessee-based company launched its “lean transformation” intended to improve operations and results. 

Sylvamo’s net loss grew to $11 million during Q2 compared with a net loss of $3 million in Q1. Net sales increased 1.3% year over year.

Pricing actions dominate quarterly fiber discussions | Packaging Dive

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