Following market volatility, will OCC prices return to ‘normal’ in 2025?
After old corrugated container prices skyrocketed in 2024, analysts anticipate a return to more normal conditions in 2025 — whatever normal means anymore in today’s environment.
This plays into packaging producers’ bottom lines as they work to balance efforts to boost recycled content with higher input costs. In December, OCC prices fell 16% year over year to $66 per ton, and dropped 11% month-over-month from November, according to a Jefferies note to investors on Dec. 17. The firm cited port strikes and lower-than-expected demand as reasons for the price dips, which followed a jump early last year. Jefferies put the average OCC price at $74 per ton in December and expected it to reach $76 per ton this month. Read More.
Recent Innovations in Sustainable Practices in the Pulp and Paper Industry
In today's rapidly evolving world, the pulp and paper industry is at the forefront of sustainability efforts, playing a crucial role in the transition towards a circular economy. As environmental concerns continue to rise, the industry is innovating to reduce waste and enhance recyclability, ensuring that resources are used efficiently and responsibly.
Below, we've highlighted the latest developments announced over the past month, showcasing significant strides made by companies and organizations in their commitment to sustainable practices and eco-friendly solutions. Read More.
Dockworkers’ Union, U.S. Maritime Alliance Avoid Port Strike
Last week, the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), a labor union representing dockworkers, and the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX), a group of ports and shipping companies, reached a tentative agreement for a six-year contract for port employees. The announcement came just one week before the ILA was set to strike. (The strike would have shut down ports along the East and Gulf coasts and would have started to damage the economy if it lasted much more than a week, economists estimated.) Read More.
The most in-demand manufacturing jobs of 2025
Tech advancements continued to reshape the manufacturing labor outlook.
Smart factories and artificial intelligence integration are boosting productivity and customization. However, these trends have often been at odds with the industry’s ability to retain and attract talent.
There were approximately 465,000 manufacturing job openings in October 2024, according to the National Association of Manufacturers, and more than 55% of respondents to NAM’s Q4 2024 survey cited the “inability to attract and retain employees” as a top business challenge. Read More.
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