Launch of domestic India recycled containerboard prices: pricing notice

The three price assessments cover three trade regions, North, West and South India, for India’s 120 gsm, 18-22 BF grade recycled testliner.

After a one-month consultation period which ended on Monday January 5, Fastmarkets has decided to launch the three new containerboard prices to enhance its coverage of the Indian market.

India’s fast-growing economy, powered by strong consumption, booming e-commerce and export-focused policies, is driving structural growth in corrugated packaging demand across fast-moving consumer goods, retail, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals and fresh produce sectors. The ban on single-use plastics and a broader sustainability push have accelerated the shift toward paper-based, recyclable packaging.

Our assessment brings clarity to India’s fragmented corrugated ecosystem, where “kraft paper” often refers to multiple brown grades, including fluting and sack-kraft, alongside testliner-the key outer layer for corrugated boxes. With thousands of micro, small and medium enterprise converters and over 140 mills producing testliners, transparent and independent price benchmarks are critical. Quality standardization is expected to increase as domestic brands and exporters align with global norms.

The specifications for the new prices are as follows:

FP-CTB-0211 Containerboard, testliner, recycled, 120 g/square meter, 18-22 BF, exw, West India, Indian rupees/tonne

Quality: testliner 120 gsm basis weight; 18-22 BF, ‘Natural’ shade
Quantity: minimum of 20 tonnes
Location: ex-works, West India
Timing: Spot and contract cargoes
Unit: Indian rupees per tonne
Payment terms: Normal and customary, typically 15-60 days after delivery
Publication: Monthly, first Friday of the month, 11:30am India time
Notes: 100% recycled furnish.

FP-CTB-0212 Containerboard, testliner, recycled, 120 g/square meter, 18-22 BF, exw, North India, Indian rupees/tonne

Quality: testliner 120 gsm basis weight; 18-22 BF, ‘Natural’ shade
Quantity: minimum of 20 tonnes
Location: ex-works, North India
Timing: Spot and contract cargoes
Unit: Indian rupees per tonne
Payment terms: Normal and customary, typically 15-60 days after delivery
Publication: Monthly, first Friday of the month, 11:30am India time
Notes: 100% recycled furnish.

FP-CTB-0213 Containerboard, testliner, recycled, 120 g/square meter, 18-22 BF, exw, South India, Indian rupees/tonne

Quality: testliner 120 gsm basis weight; 18-22 BF, ‘Natural’ shade
Quantity: minimum of 20 tonnes
Location: ex-works, South India
Timing: Spot and contract cargoes
Unit: Indian rupees per tonne
Payment terms: Normal and customary, typically 15-60 days after delivery
Publication: Monthly, first Friday of the month, 11:30am India time
Notes: 100% recycled furnish.

The prices will be part of the Fastmarkets Paper Packaging price package.

To provide feedback on this price or if you would like to provide price information by becoming a data submitter to this price, please contact Harshit Verma by email at: pricing@fastmarkets.com. Please add the subject heading “FAO: Harshit Verma,re: India containerboard, testliner.”

Please indicate if comments are confidential. Fastmarkets will consider all comments received and will make comments not marked as confidential available upon request.

To see all Fastmarkets’ pricing methodology and specification documents, go to the Fastmarkets methodology page.