With softening demand across all carton grades, US boxboard markets treaded water in October and a price increase on solid bleached sulfate (SBS) folding carton was not registering, buyer contacts said this week. But long lead times and resin cost pressures for food service grades supported a partial price increase on cupstock, with $20/ton implemented. Supplier contacts acknowledged the weaker carton demand, notably in frozen food, but said at least part of the $50 increase effective since Sept. 1 was in place on some folding contracts. Yet buyers were adamant the hike was not being pushed hard amid shorter SBS backlogs and seasonally slowing orders.
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