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Food and beverage (F&B) companies operate in highly competitive markets with often thin profit margins. In an industry where every cent matters, being equipped with accurate data can be the difference between profitability and loss.
But with limited transparency into the raw materials supply chain and into what’s driving inflating packaging costs, it is important for savvy F&B packaging buyers today to get a window into what is really behind packaging prices.
Fastmarkets’ index builder is a powerful modeling tool that can help you understand precisely why and how your paper packaging costs are evolving over time and whether they still align with industry averages.
It can show you how paper packaging prices should have evolved in relation to the changes in the market price of the paperboard material using Fastmarkets’ trusted price data (the price index), as well as the cost to produce the paperboard material based on information from our expert-backed cost benchmarking tool (the cost index).
Index builder also allows you to create custom indices for your specific packaging types in different regions, account for different proportions in costs and look deeper into the different components that contribute to packaging price. The main cost drivers considered by the model include fiber, energy, labor, chemicals and others.
By regularly monitoring packaging price indices, we can help you identify cost-saving opportunities, evaluate supplier performance, optimize your procurement processes and negotiate more effectively with suppliers.
To illustrate the benefits of our index builder modeling tool, we’ve crafted three scenario models focusing on frequently used F&B paper packaging types in the industry.
These include:
You can also find our detailed European containerboard example or model scenarios for tuck and tongue carton, gable top carton and unbleached carrier bag.
In our cereal box example, we will take a look at the cost evolution of a folding carton with partial overlap seal end in North America that uses coated recycled folding boxboard as its base material and a starting point of USD100 per 1000 pieces from 2020 to 2024.
Scroll to read the four-page data story below.
In our beverage carrier example, we will take a look at the cost evolution of a 6-pack basket in North America that uses coated unbleached kraft as its base material and a starting point of USD100 per 1000 pieces from 2020 to 2024.
In our paper bag example, we will take a look at the cost evolution of an aseptic brick carton in North America that uses solid bleached sulfate board as its base material and a starting point of USD100 per 1000 pieces from 2020 to 2024.
For those navigating the complexities of the food and beverage industry, the time has never been better to bolster your strategy with our index builder tool. It’s about making informed decisions, optimizing operations, and ultimately, thriving in a competitive marketplace.
Discover how our tool can transform your procurement strategy and bring unparalleled cost efficiencies to your packaging needs. Get in touch with our team or sign up for a demo to learn more.
Interested in learning more? As we extend our expertise into the wider realm of FMCG commodities, Fastmarkets is poised to be your go-to source for market intelligence across the board. Explore our dedicated FMCG hub to explore our comprehensive offerings and access broader commodity insights today.
Learn how to monitor packaging prices using cost and price indices and understand the underlying cost drivers, from material cost to labor, energy and more. Examples include cartonboard, liquid container and paper bag.