Poland UKL prices rise, RCCM prices stable for second consecutive month

Unbleached kraftliner prices see a significant rise while recycled containerboard prices hold steady for the second month.

Key takeaways:

  • Unbleached kraftliner (UKL) prices in Poland rose by €60 per tonne in June due to very solid demand.
  • Recycled containerboard (RCCM) prices in Poland remained unchanged for the second consecutive month.
  • White-top kraftliner (WTK) prices also increased by €40 per tonne, reflecting tight supply across Europe.
  • Polish mills are reportedly running near full capacity, giving them greater leverage to implement price increases.
  • Poland’s containerboard market is expected to expand, reaching $0.94 billion in 2026, driven by strong baseline demand.

To gain deeper insights into this dynamic market, read more about our newly launched Polish containerboard price assessments.

Poland’s prices for unbleached kraftliner (UKL) rose by €60 ($68) per tonne in June amid very solid demand while prices in the country’s recycled containerboard (RCCM) market remained unchanged for the second successive month, sources told Fastmarkets.
“Polish mills are running at strong levels, the market is tight and it makes it easy to justify price increases,” one source told Fastmarkets. “The mills are running near full capacity, and since production cannot be increased quickly enough to satisfy demand, mills have greater leverage to implement increases.”

On the white side, white-top kraftliner (WTK) prices increased by €40 per tonne in Poland in June, reflecting a broader trend across Europe with all market participants reporting tight supply. WTK prices have already increased by €40 per tonne in continental Europe.

Fastmarkets’ June price assessment for containerboard, kraftliner, 170 g, delivered Poland, was at €850-880 ($969-1,003) per tonne while the assessment for containerboard, white-top kraftliner, 140 g, delivered Poland, was at €970-990.

“We see a very solid demand in Poland. It is much better than in Germany and much stronger than we expected at the beginning of the year,” another source said.

“We do not see the usual summer holes at the moment,” he said.

Several converters reported healthier order books than last year, reducing buyers’ leverage.

Fastmarkets’ June price assessment for containerboard, recycled fluting, 105 g, delivered Poland was at €440-460 ($502-524) per tonne, just below June 2025 levels of €450-480 per tonne.

Fastmarkets’ price assessments for containerboard, testliner 2, 140 g, delivered Poland were at €460-480 per tonne in June, while containerboard, testliner 3, 140 g, delivered Poland was at €450-470 per tonne, both unchanged month on month.

Containerboard, white-top testliner, 140 g, delivered Poland, was at €660-680 in the sixth month of the year.

The Poland containerboard market, heavily dependent on a stable energy supply, is expected to expand, reaching $0.94 billion in 2026 with parcel shipping, food and agriculture exports, continued growth in e-commerce fulfillment, and nearshored manufacturing reinforcing each other and keeping baseline demand firmer than in neighboring markets.

Competition remains moderate with large international producers leading integrated capacity, while regional operators and converters continue to shape pricing and service levels.

Several sources told Fastmarkets that July is traditionally a weaker month for the market, with price declines often recorded during the period in previous years.

“I can see another €20 drop in July,” a third source said.

Other market participants strongly disagreed, however, describing such a prediction as “just wishful thinking.” According to them, it is too early to make a forecast.

Poland’s gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to grow by 3.5% in 2026, supported by strong domestic demand, steady consumer spending, and continued investment activity, before slowing to 2.8% in 2027. The Polish economy expanded by 3.6% in 2025.

European analysts say that one of the key drivers of economic activity in 2026 is the continued use of funds from the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility. Poland is expected to accelerate the absorption of these funds before the end-August deadline, providing an important boost to investment and development projects across the country.

For continuous coverage and detailed pricing data on the European containerboard market, explore our comprehensive market intelligence.

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These price assessments were previously based on underlying data from UM Paper-branded prices, which were discontinued in October 2025. Since then, the prices have been independently assessed by Fastmarkets’ price reporting team. Presenting them as a range, rather than a single number, will better reflect market developments. The proposed amendment will not affect historical prices. The […]