Introduction:In May, the packaging paper market kicked off a crazy price hike mode, with paperboard mills and carton factories following suit. According to our editor, just 4 days into May, 20 paper mills and 25 paperboard mills/carton factories raised prices for raw paper, paperboard, and cartons.

Price rises again in May, 20 paper mills raise raw paper prices by 100-200 yuan/ton

Dongguan Jianhui Paper Co., Ltd.: Starting from May 4, 2018, the sales prices of all grades of coated grey-back whiteboard paper produced by the company will be increased. RMB sales prices will increase by RMB200/ton on the original price basis, HKD sales prices will increase by HKD240/ton on the original price basis, and USD sales prices will increase by USD30/ton on the original price basis.

Liuyang Tianhe Paper Co., Ltd.: Starting from May 4, 2018, the factory finished paper prices will be increased by 100 yuan/ton on the original price basis.

Wenzhou Jinqiao Paper Co., Ltd.: Starting from May 1, 2018, prices will be increased by 100 yuan/ton on the original price basis.

Zhejiang Gaoyang Paper Co., Ltd.: Starting from May 1, 2018, single-side coated whiteboard paper prices will be increased by 100 yuan/ton from the April 30 prices. Existing unfulfilled orders are also included in the price adjustment.

Dongguan Jintian Paper Co., Ltd.: Starting from May 3, all products produced will be increased by 130 yuan/ton on the original tax-inclusive price basis. For shipments in the current month where cylinder mold machine one-time formed products account for 30% of shipments, all products shipped in the current month are eligible for a rebate of 130 yuan/ton.

Funing District Huayun Paper Co., Ltd.: Starting from May 2, 2018, all grammage corrugated paper prices will be increased by 100 yuan on the original prices.

Foshan Nanhai District Huazhan Factory: Due to the continuous rise in raw material prices such as waste paper, starting from May 3, the factory grey board paper prices will be increased by 100 yuan/ton on the original basis.

Zhejiang Gaoyang Paper Co., Ltd.: Starting from May 1, single-side coated whiteboard paper prices will be increased by 100 yuan/ton from the April 30 prices.

Shahe Jinxin Paper Co., Ltd.: Starting from May 1, Grade A high-strength corrugated paper and C1 grade yarn tube paper will be uniformly increased by 100 yuan/ton.

Guangdong Huatai Paper Co., Ltd.: Starting from May 2, 50g corrugated paper prices will be uniformly increased by 100 yuan/ton on the original basis.

Zhangzhou Yingsheng Paper Co., Ltd.: Starting from May 1, 2018, high-strength corrugated paper prices will be increased by 100 yuan/ton on the original price basis.

Hangzhou Jinminyuan Paper Co., Ltd.: Starting from May 3, 2018, finished paper prices will be increased by 100 yuan/ton on the original supply price basis. Existing unfulfilled orders are included in this price adjustment. Goods will be shipped upon payment; shipments will be suspended for those who fail to pay as required.

Hangzhou Haichen Paper Co., Ltd.: Starting from May 3, 2018, grey-back coated whiteboard paper prices will be increased by 100 yuan/ton on the original price basis. Existing unfulfilled orders are also included in the price adjustment.

Hangzhou Sanxing Paper Co., Ltd.: Starting from May 6, the factory ex-works prices of grey board paper will be uniformly increased by 100 yuan/ton on the original price basis. This price adjustment includes undelivered orders. Shipments will be suspended for any overdue payments that are not settled as scheduled.

Zhejiang Honghao Holding Group Co., Ltd.: Starting from May 3, 2018, finished paper prices will be increased by 100 yuan/ton on the original supply price basis. Existing unfulfilled orders are included in this price adjustment. Cash payment gets priority for shipment; shipments will be suspended for those not complying with payment requirements.

Shahe Shengyuan Paper Mill: Starting from May 4, 2018, finished paper prices will be increased by 100 yuan/ton on the current price basis. Existing unfulfilled orders are included in this price adjustment. In principle, cash and carry and shipment upon payment will be implemented; cross-month payment business will be suspended effective immediately.

Hangzhou Fuyang Zhenghua Paper Co., Ltd.: Starting from May 4, 2018, single-side coated whiteboard paper prices will be increased by 100 yuan/ton on the original price basis.

Xinxiang Henry Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd.: Starting from May 2, 2018, prices will be increased by 100 yuan/ton on the current sales price basis.

Shandong Shouguang Luli Paper Co., Ltd.: Starting from May 1, 2018, all product prices will be increased by 100 yuan/ton.

Shandong Ronghua Paper Co., Ltd.: Starting from May 4, 2018, cash ex-works prices of whiteboard paper and grey board paper will be increased by 100 yuan/ton on the original price basis.

Following the paper mill price hikes, paperboard mills and carton factories rush to raise prices

After paper mills issued price hike letters one after another, paperboard mills and carton factories were not idle either. At the beginning of May, according to our editor, at least 25 paperboard mills and carton factories raised paperboard or carton prices in just 4 days.

Chengdu Baiteli Packaging Printing Co., Ltd.: Starting from May 3, 2018, paperboard and carton prices will be increased on the original price basis by 5%.

Sichuan Ruisen Paper Co., Ltd.: Price adjustment effective from orders accepted after 13:00 on May 4, 2018. Carton prices will be increased by 8% on the original price basis. Paperboard prices will be increased by 5% on the currently effective price basis (rounded to two decimal places).

Chengdu Xinlin Packaging Printing Co., Ltd.: Starting from May 4, 2018, all product prices will be increased by 8% on the current basis.

Zhongyin Zhenghui New Materials Chengdu Co., Ltd.: Starting from May 4, 2018, paperboard prices will be increased on the current price basis: two-layer and three-layer by 0.1 yuan, four-layer and five-layer by 0.2 yuan.              

Chengdu Xingjimei Paper Products Co., Ltd.: Starting from May 4, 2018, three-layer board will be increased by 0.1 yuan per square meter on the original price basis; five-layer board will be increased by 0.2 yuan per square meter on the original price basis.

Zhejiang Sanhan Packaging Co., Ltd.: Starting from 20:00 on May 3, 2018 (based on order acceptance time), three-layer prices will be increased by 0.10 yuan/square meter on the original price basis; four-layer and five-layer prices will be increased by 0.20 yuan/square meter on the original price basis; seven-layer prices will be increased by 0.30 yuan/square meter on the original price basis.

Chengdu Longsheng Packaging Products Co., Ltd.: Starting from May 4, 2018, all product prices will be increased by 8% on the current basis.

Pinghu Jinruixiang Paper Co., Ltd.: Starting from 17:00 on May 2, 2018, all product prices will be increased by 5%.

Lihe Paper Products (Jiashan) Co., Ltd.: Starting from 12:00 on May 3, 2018, all paperboard order prices will be increased by an additional 5 percentage points on the original quotation discount basis.              

Zhejiang Jufeng Packaging Co., Ltd.: Starting from 20:00 on May 3, 2018, three-layer paperboard will be increased by 0.10 yuan/square meter; four-layer paperboard will be increased by 0.20 yuan/square meter; five-layer paperboard will be increased by 0.20 yuan/square meter.

Zhejiang Jinou Packaging Co., Ltd.: Starting from May 3, 2018 (20:00), three-layer prices will be increased by 0.1 yuan/square meter on the original cash price basis; four-layer prices will be increased by 0.2 yuan/square meter on the original cash price basis; five-layer prices will be increased by 0.2 yuan/square meter on the original cash price basis; seven-layer prices will be increased by 0.3 yuan/square meter on the original cash price basis.

Wenzhou Outai Packaging Co., Ltd.: Starting from 20:00 on May 3, 2018 (based on order acceptance), two-layer and three-layer paperboard prices will be increased by 0.10 yuan/square meter or more; four-layer paperboard prices will be increased by 0.15 yuan/square meter or more; five-layer paperboard prices will be increased by 0.20 yuan/square meter or more; seven-layer paperboard prices will be increased by 0.30 yuan/square meter or more.

Jiaxing Rongsheng Packaging Materials Co., Ltd.: Starting from 19:00 on May 2, 2018, prices will be increased by 8 percentage points on the original price basis; order acceptance will be limited (based on the average daily order volume of the previous two months).            

Zhejiang Xinlaike Packaging Technology Co., Ltd.: Starting from 16:00 on May 2, 2018, three-layer and five-layer prices will be increased by 5%, and two-layer by 3%; the company will stop accepting orders from customers with delayed payments.          

Jiaxing Dongming Paper Co., Ltd.: Starting from May 2, 2018, paperboard prices will be increased by 5% on the original price basis.

Guli Paper (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.: Starting from 17:25 on May 3, 2018, company product prices will be increased by 5 discount percentage points.

Guangdong Yadu Packaging Printing Co., Ltd.: Starting from 18:00 on May 3, 2018, two-layer paperboard will be increased by 0.02 yuan/square meter; three-layer paperboard by 0.03 yuan/square meter; four-layer paperboard by 0.04 yuan/square meter; five-layer paperboard by 0.05 yuan/square meter; seven-layer paperboard by 0.07 yuan/square meter.

Xingyang Xinlongda Paper Products Co., Ltd.: Starting from May 4, 2018, two-layer paperboard will be increased by 0.05 yuan/square meter (4EC: 1.30 yuan/square meter), three-layer paperboard by 0.05 yuan/square meter (C4C: 1.85 yuan/square meter), four-layer paperboard by 0.10 yuan/square meter (434C: 2.45 yuan/square meter), five-layer paperboard by 0.10 yuan/square meter (B434C: 2.90 yuan/square meter).

Fujian Qunxing Group Co., Ltd.: Starting from May 4, 2018, prices will be increased by 5% on the original prices. All temporary credit limit and indebted customers will be restricted from placing orders; orders with long lead times, "a la carte" orders, and orders pending delivery notification will not be accepted.

Fujian Jinjiang Qunying Packaging Co., Ltd.: Starting from 17:00 on May 3, 2018 (based on order acceptance date), carton unit prices will be increased by 5% on the current sales price basis.

Shishi Bailong Packaging Co., Ltd.: Starting from 17:00 on May 3, 2018 (based on our order date), our prices will be increased by 5% on a discount basis from the March 31, 2018 prices.

Quanzhou Tianchen Paper Products Packaging Co., Ltd.: Starting from 9:00 on May 3, 2018 (based on order acceptance time), paperboard prices will be increased by 7% on the current quotation basis. Prepayments remitted before May 3, 2018 should be settled by May 12, 2018.

Julong (Fujian) Packaging Co., Ltd.: Starting from 17:00 on May 2, 2018, paperboard prices will be increased by 5% on the April 12 price basis.

Nanan Hengfa Paper Products Packaging Co., Ltd.: Starting from 17:30 on May 3, 2018, paperboard prices will be further increased by 5% on the original price basis, and fine corrugated board will be further increased by 6% on the original price basis.

Jinjiang Xinda Carton Packaging Co., Ltd.: Starting from 17:00 on May 3, 2018, prices will be increased by 5% on the March 31, 2018 price basis.

Regarding this wave of price hikes, industry analysts noted that under the conditions of high waste paper prices and slight improvement in market demand, the packaging paper market in May may maintain an upward volatility trend. However, changes in market conditions and the emergence of uncertain factors bring unknowns as to whether the price increases can be sustained and for how long.