Tariff front-loading buoyed manufacturing in H1, but costs are ahead: OECD

“The impacts of higher tariff rates are yet to be fully felt in the US economy,” according to a report from OECD, a global policy forum. Negative effects from metals tariffs are of particular concern to the packaging industry.

By Katie Pyzyk • Sept. 24, 2025

Ball, Lamiflex, Nefab announce expansions

Other packaging manufacturers making investments to expand in the United States include iPower and Ring Container Technologies.

By Katie Pyzyk • Sept. 18, 2025

Corrugated comeback? Fiber’s yearslong slide could be easing

Analysts believe corrugated markets are at an inflection point, in part due to this year’s uncommonly large containerboard capacity reductions and a milder-than-feared tariff environment. But recovery is not expected to be dramatic.

By Katie Pyzyk • Sept. 16, 2025

International Paper CEO describes wins, challenges with transformation plan

CEO Andy Silvernail dug into the company’s ongoing optimization and how recent changes in Georgia play a role in long-term return on investments, during a Sept. 4 session at the Jefferies Industrials Conference.

By Katie Pyzyk • Sept. 10, 2025

Georgia-Pacific acquires Anchor Packaging

The companies focus on different substrates and indicate their combination is complementary, especially to serve the food and beverage sectors.

By Katie Pyzyk • Updated Oct. 30, 2025

Sonoco divests ThermoSafe for up to $725M

The final selling price to a private equity firm hinges on business performance in 2025. The long-awaited divestiture of the temperature-assured packaging business will help Sonoco offset the cost of its Eviosys acquisition.

By Katie Pyzyk • Updated Nov. 3, 2025

Graphic Packaging International embracing paper cup opportunities, CEO says

At an event this week, CEO Mike Doss described how Graphic Packaging International’s play to be the king of cups is paying off amid customers’ economic challenges.

By Katie Pyzyk • Sept. 5, 2025

IP, Novolex, Smurfit Westrock among companies with August layoff announcements

At least seven companies announced temporary and permanent layoffs that are slated to affect employees in multiple states, most prominently in Georgia and California.

By Katie Pyzyk • Sept. 4, 2025

PCA completes $1.8B acquisition of Greif’s containerboard business

The divestiture “marks an important step forward for Greif,” CEO Ole Rosgaard said Tuesday, noting the deal’s contribution to debt reduction. The company adjusted its full-year guidance upon announcing the deal closed.

By Katie Pyzyk • Sept. 2, 2025

Greif cites progress of business reorganization, cost cutting

Executives on the fiscal Q3 earnings call Thursday also shared updated timing on two major divestiture closings, with one coming slightly ahead of projections and the other slightly later.

By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 28, 2025

Ball reduces stake in Saudi Arabia cans venture to 10%

The Colorado-based aluminum products manufacturer sold most of its ownership interest to a subsidiary of a Beijing-based packaging solutions provider for approximately $70 million.

By Maria Rachal • Aug. 28, 2025

Ranpak lands second major e-commerce deal of 2025

A deal with Walmart comes after one with Amazon. CEO Omar Asali discusses the importance of these enterprise customers, riding the AI wave for automation and navigating economic uncertainty ahead of the busy holiday season.

By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 26, 2025

Trump’s tax law could boost cash flow for manufacturers with deductions and more

The recently signed tax law allows bonus depreciation for qualifying equipment, offers R&D deductions, locks in the corporate tax rate and more. But tariffs and tax code interpretations could still complicate companies’ financial plans.

By Michelle No • Aug. 26, 2025

Canada to scale back retaliatory tariffs for US imports on Sept. 1

The country will lift levies on goods compliant with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement while maintaining sector-specific duties on steel, aluminum and cars.

By Phil Neuffer • Aug. 22, 2025

International Paper to close 4 facilities, affecting 1,100 employees

It’s one of the the latest in a series of streamlining efforts under CEO Andy Silvernail, affecting a range of packaging facilities and mills.

By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 21, 2025

International Paper sells global cellulose fibers unit for $1.5B

Private equity firm American Industrial Partners is the buyer in the long-anticipated sale. CEO Andy Silvernail has been pushing to make International Paper a more streamlined, pure-play packaging solutions company.

By Maria Rachal • Updated Jan. 23, 2026

Containerboard price-fixing lawsuit advances

The complaint against eight of the largest U.S. containerboard producers is “definitely not frivolous” and shows a “pretty solid basis for bringing the action,” said one attorney with antitrust defense expertise.

By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 20, 2025

Novolex closing Pactiv Evergreen plant in California, affecting 127 employees

This follows a Pactiv Evergreen facility closure in Michigan earlier this year that resulted in 153 layoffs.

By Maria Rachal • Aug. 20, 2025

4 fiber companies’ earnings flag ‘challenging’ industry conditions

Weak demand, trade conditions, divestitures and swing production dominated earnings reports from Clearwater Paper, Sappi, Stora Enso and Sylvamo.

By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 15, 2025

Amcor considers divesting North American beverage business

The company is redefining its “core portfolio” after acquiring Berry Global. Since finalizing that deal, Amcor has cut 200 roles and worked to close five sites. It’s also hit some unexpected snags in North America.

By Maria Rachal • Aug. 14, 2025

Hood Container, Sappi, Uline invest in expansions

Cosmo Films, Eco King, Flair Packaging, Schütz Container Systems, TricorBraun and Trioworld Group are among the other packaging companies expanding their production capacities or geographical footprints.

By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 14, 2025

Cascades details Virginia production ramp-up, New York wind-down

The Canadian fiber specialist said it accelerated the closure of corrugated medium manufacturing operations in Niagara Falls in light of notable tonnage increases at Bear Island that persisted through July.

By Maria Rachal • Aug. 7, 2025

Ball optimistic after growth in nonalcoholic beverages

Meanwhile, the can manufacturer has been doing some “repositioning” of its beer-heavy portfolio, as that category has been relatively soft across geographies. The company called tariff impacts “manageable.”

By Maria Rachal • Aug. 6, 2025

Greif sells timberlands business for $462M

The sale to Molpus Woodlands Group aligns with Greif’s ongoing optimization and cost-reduction efforts.

By Katie Pyzyk • Updated Oct. 2, 2025

Sealed Air details protective packaging turnaround progress, introduces new CFO

The second quarter of 2025 brought the most stable year-over-year volume results for protective packaging since 2021, said CEO Dustin Semach on Tuesday’s earnings call.

By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 5, 2025