At the same time, PCA continues to invest elsewhere, including upgrades at facilities acquired from Greif last year. The company was also the first major container- board producer to announce a 2026 price increase, with a planned $70 per ton increase effective March 1. WestRock Services, a division of packaging company Smurfit Westrock, has also announced plans to close its corrugated plant in Wakefield, Massachusetts, resulting in 91 job losses. The cuts are expected to begin on May 18. Robby Johnson, a spokesperson for Smurfit Westrock, wrote in an email Friday that “production at the plant will be moved to facilities within the Smurfit Westrock net- work.” He did not elaborate on the reasons for the closing, noting the decision was made as part of the company’s “optimization efforts.” Some of the affected employees are represented by In- ternational Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 3, or National Conference of Firemen & Oilers 32BJ SEIU, Local 3, ac- cording to the notice. In Massachusetts, Smurfit Westrock has additional facil- ities in Bellingham, Springfield and Devens. Johnson con- firmed that those facilities are still operational. The Wake- field facility opened in 1966. Smurfit Westrock makes paper-based packaging prod- ucts, including corrugated containers and consumer pack- aging. That includes cardboard boxes for wine, produce packaging, beer bottle packaging and folding cartons for food, beauty and other products.
AVERAGE CONTAINERBOARD PRICES The average prices reported are tabulated from prices PAID by various sources throughout the United States the week previous to issue. Prices in some areas of the country may be higher or lower than the tabulated average. The prices tabulated here are intended only for purposes of reference. They do not connote any commitment to sell any material at the indicated average. Transactions may be completed at any time at a price agreed upon by seller and purchaser. REGION 42# Kraft liner 26# Semi-Chem. Medium $ 900.00-925. 00 $ 825. 00 -$850.00 U.S. Average CANADIAN LINERBOARD & MEDIUM The average prices reported are tabulated from prices PAID by various sources throughout Canada. Prices may be higher or lower in various areas of the country. The prices tabulated here are intended only for purposes of reference. They do not connote any commitment to sell any material at the indicated average. Transactions may be completed at any time at a price agreed upon by seller and purchaser. Prices are Canadian $ and per metric ton. 42# Kraft Liner 26# Semi-Chem Medium East $970.00 $960.00 West $1,015.00 $995.00 REGION
PCA Closure (CONT’D FROM PAGE 1)
Hourly production and maintenance employees at the Richmond plant are represented by the United Steelwork- ers. A nearby satellite warehouse in North Chesterfield, Vir- ginia, which employs six people, will remain in operation. PCA said it will continue running the facility and work with the union on staffing. The Richmond closure follows earlier reductions at PCA’s Wallula, Washington mill, where the company an- nounced in February it would shut down the No. 2 paper machine and related kraft pulping operations, affecting about 200 employees.
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