Ardagh Metal Packaging issued an inside-information notice on 15 October 2026 pointing investors to a press release from its controlling shareholder, Ardagh Holdings S.A., updating on a sales process. The notice itself discloses no scope, assets, terms or counterparties. AMP runs 23 can plants in nine countries with 2025 sales of USD 5.5bn; Ardagh Group runs 58 metal and glass plants with about USD 9.6bn of 2025 sales.
Why this mattersA sales process at the controlling shareholder could change who owns a leading beverage-can supplier across Europe and the Americas.
- Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A. issued a notice on 15 October 2026 referencing a separate press release from its controlling shareholder Ardagh Holdings S.A. on a sales process.
- No terms, assets or counterparties of the sales process are disclosed in the AMP notice.
- AMP operates 23 production facilities in nine countries, employs approximately 6,500 people and reported sales of USD 5.5bn in 2025.
- Ardagh Holdings S.A., the ultimate parent of Ardagh Group, operates 58 metal and glass facilities in 16 countries with approximately USD 9.6bn in 2025 sales.
- The notice states it contains inside information under Article 7 of EU Regulation 596/2014.
International Paper is in talks with potential bidders after unsolicited approaches for its EMEA packaging business, the former DS Smith operations, while it continues to prepare a spin-off of the unit. The spin-off, first announced on 29 January 2026, is planned as a London Stock Exchange listing with a Level II ADR programme on the New York Stock Exchange. The company says the sale process is at an early stage with no certainty of a deal, and it will hold a capital markets day on the separation on 3 November 2026.
Why this mattersA trade sale would put the former DS Smith corrugated network under a new owner rather than float it as a standalone company, changing the competitive map in European corrugated.
- International Paper said on 15 October 2026 it is in discussions with potential bidders following unsolicited approaches for its EMEA packaging business.
- The company said the sale process is at an early stage and there is no certainty any transaction will be completed.
- International Paper is pursuing the spin-off and a possible sale at the same time.
- The spin-off, first announced on 29 January 2026, is planned via a London Stock Exchange listing with a Level II ADR programme in New York.
- A DS Smith capital markets day on the separation is scheduled for 3 November 2026.
- The statement followed recent movement in the share price and press speculation about a sale.
Mondi's underlying EBITDA rose to EUR 196m in the third quarter of 2026 from EUR 167m in the second quarter, which included a EUR 43m forestry fair-value loss, as earlier price increases offset planned maintenance shutdowns and faster-than-expected input-cost inflation. Gas averaged EUR 63/MWh, up 35-40% sequentially, adding roughly EUR 20-25m to quarterly costs; Mondi does not hedge energy. Management expects price increases to offset cost inflation in the fourth quarter at current spot prices, but says energy markets remain volatile.
Why this mattersWith 80-85% energy self-generated but no hedging, Mondi's margin hinges on whether paper price increases keep pace with gas; exposure is concentrated at Duino and Neusiedler.
- Underlying EBITDA was EUR 196m in Q3 2026, against EUR 167m in Q2 2026, which included a EUR 43m forestry fair-value loss.
- Gas averaged EUR 63/MWh in Q3 2026, up 35-40% sequentially; gas and other energy-related costs added about EUR 20-25m in the quarter.
- Mondi had guided to a EUR 35m rise in wood costs in H2 versus H1 2026, about half of it falling in Q3 versus Q2.
- Mondi generates about 80-85% of its own energy and does not hedge energy costs.
- Like-for-like volumes grew about 1% year on year against a largely flat European market.
- Mondi is transferring customer volumes from converting plants scheduled for closure later in 2026.
Cirkla, Belmark and Ossid have launched a resealable tray system for fresh food and ready meals, combining Cirkla's moulded-fibre trays, Belmark's reseal film and Ossid's ReeMaster NextGen sealer. Cirkla says the format cuts plastic use by up to 90%, matches or beats plastic on strength, barrier and shelf life, and runs on standard US tray sealers without line conversion or capital spending; trays have been trialled at large US retailers and meat processors. Cirkla plans to start production at its first US plant, in Gainesville, Georgia, in the first quarter of 2027.
Why this mattersA fibre tray that runs on existing US sealers lowers the switching cost for meat and ready-meal packers moving from plastic trays to fibre.
- Cirkla supplies the moulded-fibre trays, Belmark the reseal film, and Ossid, a ProMach unit and Reepack's North American distributor, the sealer.
- Cirkla says the format cuts plastic use by up to 90% versus plastic trays.
- Cirkla says the trays run on standard US industrial tray sealers without line conversion or capital investment.
- Ossid's ReeMaster NextGen switches between top-seal, MAP and VSP skin packaging using stored digital recipes.
- The trays have been trialled on lines at large US retailers and meat processors.
- Cirkla plans to start production at its Gainesville, Georgia plant in Q1 2027; it said in August the plant will employ over 100 at full capacity.
The Greater Augusta Utility District has sued Sappi North America, Huhtamaki, Kimberly-Clark and two American Tissue entities in federal court, alleging PFAS discharges from their paper and packaging plants contaminated groundwater feeding its drinking-water wells. The district, which serves about 13,750 residents, says PFAS first appeared in its wells in October 2021 and exceeded Maine's drinking-water standard by November 2024. Huhtamaki is accused of discharging PFAS-containing wastewater to a sanitary treatment district in Waterville; Sappi says it complies with environmental permits and does not knowingly use PFAS materials.
Why this mattersThe suit tests whether paper and packaging producers can be held liable for PFAS reaching shared municipal water supplies, beyond contamination at their own sites.
- Defendants named: Sappi North America, Huhtamaki, Kimberly-Clark, American Tissue Mills of Maine and American Tissue Corp.
- The Greater Augusta Utility District supplies drinking water to about 13,750 residents in Maine.
- PFAS were first detected in the district's wells in October 2021; levels exceeded Maine's drinking-water standard by November 2024.
- The district took a well offline and installed treatment in response to the contamination.
- The lawsuit alleges Huhtamaki discharged PFAS-containing wastewater to the Kennebec Sanitary Treatment District in Waterville.
- Sappi says it complies with environmental regulations and does not knowingly use PFAS-containing materials.
The US Commerce Department has issued a final antidumping determination on high purity dissolving pulp from Brazil, setting a 6.40% cash deposit rate for Bracell and other Brazilian exporters effective from publication on 16 October 2026. A parallel countervailing duty case set a 9.37% subsidy rate, not yet collected pending an ITC injury ruling due within 45 days. Rayonier Advanced Materials and the United Steelworkers filed the original petitions in August 2025.
Why this mattersA cumulative deposit near 15.77% if the subsidy order follows would raise landed costs for Brazilian dissolving pulp and support US domestic producers such as Rayonier Advanced Materials.
- Commerce set a 6.40% antidumping cash deposit on Brazilian high purity dissolving pulp, effective with publication on 16 October 2026
- The underlying dumping margin is 6.50% for Bracell and all other Brazilian exporters
- A parallel countervailing duty case set a 9.37% subsidy rate, not currently collected pending an ITC injury finding
- A companion case set a 6.51% antidumping rate for dissolving pulp from Norway
- Rayonier Advanced Materials and the United Steelworkers filed the petitions in August 2025
- The ITC held its final hearing on 8 October 2026 and must rule within 45 days of Commerce's decision
Georgia-Pacific has completed a USD 110m modernisation of the log handling system at its Monticello, Mississippi containerboard mill, with the new equipment in operation from 13 October 2026. The project, launched in April 2023 with an initial budget of USD 91m, added new weigh scales, two 35-ton radial cranes, debarkers and chippers, and cuts truck unloading time by about 50%.
Why this mattersFaster log intake and new debarking and chipping lines at Monticello secure wood-chip supply to the pulping line rather than adding containerboard capacity.
- Investment totalled about USD 110m, up from an initial USD 91m budget announced in April 2023.
- The upgrade was completed and in operation on 13 October 2026 at the Monticello, Mississippi containerboard mill.
- Two new radial cranes with 35-ton lifting capacity can unload a full truckload of logs in one lift.
- Truck unloading time is cut by about 50%.
- The project covers log weigh-in, unloading, debarking and chipping, feeding wood chips to the mill's pulping system.
- Log trucks now enter via GP Road and Cytex Road instead of the NA Sandifer Highway main entrance.
O-I Glass plans to close two of the six production lines at its Pointe-Saint-Charles glass container plant in Montreal, affecting about 20% of the site's 340 employees, according to Le Journal de Montréal. The cuts reportedly follow the expiry of a four-year supply contract with Anheuser-Busch, amid US-Canada trade tensions; the plant exports 60-70% of its output to the United States. A first round of layoffs covering about 10% of staff was scheduled to start on 6 October 2026, with about 30 more employees to follow two weeks later.
Why this mattersLosing an Anheuser-Busch contract while exporting 60-70% of output to the US leaves the Montreal plant exposed to both customer and cross-border trade risk.
- Two of six production lines are to close at O-I Glass's Pointe-Saint-Charles plant in Montreal.
- About 20% of the plant's 340 employees could be affected.
- A first round of layoffs of about 10% of staff was scheduled to begin on 6 October 2026, with about 30 more two weeks later.
- Union representatives say one of the affected lines makes about 400 bottles per minute.
- The plant exports about 60-70% of its glass container output to the United States.
- The cuts are reportedly tied to the expiry of a four-year supply contract with Anheuser-Busch, an AB InBev subsidiary.
ANSA McAL and its beverage unit Caribbean Development Company have signed a USD 50m loan with IDB Invest, funded by Japan's JICA, to upgrade beverage production and rebuild the furnace at glass bottle supplier Carib Glassworks. The agreement, signed 17 July 2026 and announced 15 October 2026, is part of a wider financing framework of up to USD 500m for the ANSA McAL Group, which already includes a USD 200m commitment from international partners.
Why this mattersDevelopment-bank funding for a furnace rebuild keeps glass bottle production in Trinidad tied to ANSA McAL's own brewing and beverage operations.
- USD 50m loan signed under the JICA-funded TADAC trust fund via IDB Invest
- Agreement signed 17 July 2026, announced 15 October 2026
- Funds furnace reconstruction at Carib Glassworks, which supplies glass bottles to Caribbean Development Company
- Also funds equipment upgrades in brewing, packaging and logistics at Caribbean Development Company
- Forms part of a wider financing framework of up to USD 500m for the ANSA McAL Group
- Includes working capital for importing production materials
The US Commerce Department has preliminarily set a 3.98% countervailing duty rate for SRF Limited, an Indian producer and exporter of PET film, sheet and strip, in its administrative review covering calendar year 2024. Commerce rescinded the review for nine other Indian companies, including Chiripal Poly Films and Cosmo First, and interested parties can comment before final results are published.
Why this mattersFinal countervailing rates will set the landed cost of Indian PET film for US converters and SRF's position against other suppliers in the US market.
- Commerce set a preliminary subsidy rate of 3.98% for SRF Limited.
- The review period runs from 1 January to 31 December 2024.
- The review was rescinded for nine other companies, including Chiripal Poly Films and Cosmo First.
- The preliminary results were published on 14 October 2026 under case C-533-825.
- Interested parties may comment before final results are issued.
Millcraft has acquired Protective Packaging Products (P3), a Louisville, Kentucky-based distributor of custom corrugated and protective packaging serving automotive and industrial customers. Financial terms were not disclosed. P3 will continue to operate as a separate entity from its existing facility, retaining its processes and customer relationships.
Why this mattersThe deal adds assembly and just-in-time inventory services to Millcraft's distribution network, deepening its reach into automotive and industrial protective packaging.
- Millcraft, a Cleveland-based distributor, acquired Protective Packaging Products (P3) of Louisville, Kentucky
- Financial terms were not disclosed
- P3 was founded in 2001 and supplies corrugated, returnable packaging, polybags, polyfoam and bubble bags
- P3's assembly operation completes about 3,000 to 5,000 parts per week
- P3 will keep operating from its Louisville facility and retain its ISO 9001 certification
- Millcraft, founded in 1920, distributes paper, packaging and graphic arts products across 17 US cities
Suntory Group will commercialise its Flake-to-Preform direct PET recycling technology in Thailand from 2028, the first use of the process in Southeast Asia. The technology will be run through Indovida (Thailand) Limited, a joint venture with Indorama Ventures and Iwatani Corp, producing about 400 million PET preforms a year for Suntory PepsiCo Beverage Thailand.
Why this mattersDirect flake-to-preform conversion, skipping crystallisation and drying, shortens bottle-to-bottle recycling in Southeast Asia; Suntory cites about 70% lower CO2 than virgin-PET bottles.
- Commercial launch targeted for 2028 in Thailand, the first Southeast Asian deployment of Suntory's Flake-to-Preform (F-to-P) technology
- Joint venture Indovida (Thailand) Limited formed by Suntory, Indorama Ventures and Iwatani Corp
- Planned output of about 400 million PET preforms a year, supplied entirely to Suntory PepsiCo Beverage Thailand
- F-to-P has been used in Japan since 2018 for soft-drink bottles, skipping the crystallisation and drying steps of conventional bottle-to-bottle recycling
- Suntory states the process cuts CO2 emissions by about 70 percent versus virgin-PET bottles, based on Japanese calculations
- As of 2025, 42 percent of Suntory's global PET bottles use recycled or bio-based material, part of its goal of 100 percent by 2030
Spain's competition authority CNMC conducted unannounced inspections between 6 and 9 October 2026 at the premises of several leading corrugated cardboard manufacturers. The regulator is investigating suspected market-sharing, price coordination and exchange of commercially sensitive information among competitors; the inspections precede any formal opening of penalty proceedings and do not establish guilt.
Why this mattersA cartel case would expose Spain's leading corrugated box makers to fines and put box pricing to Spanish food and logistics customers under regulatory scrutiny.
- CNMC carried out unannounced inspections at several leading Spanish corrugated cardboard manufacturers between 6 and 9 October 2026
- The probe examines alleged non-aggression agreements, customer allocation, price coordination and exchange of sensitive information
- The inspections precede any formal penalty proceedings and do not prejudge guilt
- CNMC's leniency programme remains open to companies that provide evidence of a cartel before the case is resolved
Circulate Capital has made an undisclosed investment in PT Bumi Baru Plastik, an Indonesian recycler of polypropylene and polyethylene, to fund a fivefold increase in processing capacity. The company will consolidate production at a new industrial site in Jonggol, West Java, lifting output from pilot scale to 2,600 tonnes per month by the fourth quarter of 2027 in two phases. It is the sixth investment Circulate Capital has made in Indonesia.
Why this mattersAdds high-purity recycled PP and PE capacity in Indonesia aimed at automotive, electronics and packaging users, including bag-to-bag recycling of woven sacks.
- Circulate Capital has invested an undisclosed amount in PT Bumi Baru Plastik (BBP), founded in 2022.
- The investment is Circulate Capital's sixth in Indonesia.
- BBP will consolidate production at a new industrial site in Jonggol, West Java.
- Phase 1 raises capacity to 1,600 tonnes per month by February 2027.
- Phase 2 raises capacity to 2,600 tonnes per month by the fourth quarter of 2027, a fivefold increase overall.
- BBP supplies more than 50 plastics manufacturers and sources from a network of more than 400 collection partners.
A waste-paper recycling mill is under construction in Aktobe, Kazakhstan, with investment of about KZT 10bn. It is designed to produce up to 18,000 tonnes of corrugating paper and up to 24,000 tonnes of board a year, with start-up planned for 2027 and more than 300 jobs. The boiler house is built and foundation, piling and warehouse work is under way; the operator is not named in the report.
Why this mattersNew recycled-fibre capacity in Kazakhstan gives local box makers a domestic source of corrugating paper and board.
- Investment of about KZT 10bn in the plant
- Planned output of up to 18,000 tonnes of corrugating paper a year
- Planned output of up to 24,000 tonnes of board a year
- Start-up planned for 2027
- More than 300 jobs expected in the region
- Boiler house built; foundation, piling and warehouse construction under way
Indonesia has cut import tariffs to 0% for six months on selected polyethylene and polypropylene raw materials under Finance Ministry Regulation No. 68/2026, promulgated on 2 October 2026. The move responds to global polypropylene prices up about 42.79% and polyethylene up 27.87% year on year as of 13 October, and covers six tariff classifications.
Why this mattersA duty-free resin window lowers feedstock costs for Indonesian plastics converters, though industry says the eligible grades are mostly liquid and less useful for packaging, which needs pellet resin.
- Finance Ministry Regulation No. 68/2026 was promulgated on 2 October 2026
- The exemption applies for six months and sets 0% MFN duty on six tariff classifications of PE and PP
- International polypropylene prices rose about 42.79% year on year as of 13 October 2026
- International polyethylene prices rose about 27.87% year on year over the same period
- Most raw materials currently benefiting are supplied in liquid form, limiting use for packaging makers needing pellet resin
- Coordinating Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto said the government will monitor implementation and consider industry feedback
