The United States has revised the range of Canadian-origin goods subject to its additional 50% Section 338 duty. It removes corrugated boxes, some paper sacks and bags, moulded pulp articles and plastic-coated bleached paperboard, and adds unbleached kraft paper, self-adhesive paper, pressure-sensitive labels and other graphic and coated paper grades. The changes apply to goods entered from 12:01 a.m. eastern time on 30 October 2026, on top of any Section 232 duties. It is the second revision of coverage since the duties took effect on 22 August 2026, after one on 8 September.
Why this mattersA further reshuffle of which Canadian paper, board and label categories face a 50% US duty changes sourcing costs and competitiveness for converters and brand owners trading across the border.
- Changes take effect for goods entered for consumption at or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on 30 October 2026
- Removed from the 50% duty: corrugated boxes (HTSUS 4819.10.00), other paper sacks and bags (4819.40.00), moulded and other pulp articles (4823.70.00, 4823.90.10) and plastic-coated bleached paper and paperboard over 150 g/m² (4811.51.20, 4811.51.40)
- Newly added to the 50% duty: unbleached kraft paper (4804.31.60), self-adhesive paper (4811.41.10), plastic-coated printing and other paper (4811.59.20, 4811.59.40), paper sacks with a base of 40 cm or wider (4819.30.00) and unprinted pressure-sensitive labels (4821.90.20)
- The Section 338 duties apply in addition to duties under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962
- The 50% duty took effect on 22 August 2026 after a three-day suspension under Proclamation 11056; Proclamation 11065 first revised the coverage on 8 September 2026
- The duties stem from Proclamation 11048, based on a determination that Canadian motor-vehicle tariff arrangements discriminated against US commerce
Sofidel is expanding its tissue plant in Inola, Oklahoma, by 90,000 square metres, adding a third paper machine with 75,000 tonnes a year of TAD capacity and an automated warehouse for up to 100,000 load units. Technology supplier E80 Group will install palletisers, stretch-wrapping systems and additional laser-guided driverless vehicles, run on its SM.I.LE80 software platform. Sofidel gave no investment figure or completion date.
Why this mattersThe 75,000-tonne TAD machine joins two existing lines at Inola, adding premium tissue capacity to Sofidel's US base with production and logistics run as one system.
- Sofidel is expanding its Inola, Oklahoma tissue plant by 90,000 square metres.
- A third paper machine with 75,000 tonnes per year capacity will use TAD technology for premium tissue, alongside two existing machines.
- An automated warehouse will hold up to 100,000 load units.
- E80 Group will supply palletisers, stretch-wrapping systems and additional laser-guided driverless vehicles; the project also covers automatic truck loading and large paper reel handling.
- Sofidel and E80 Group have worked together since 1997, including an earlier automation project at the Circleville, Ohio plant opened in 2018.
- No investment amount or completion date was disclosed for the Inola project.
Croatia's Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund opened a public call on 27 October 2026 for collectors to handle up to 150,000 tonnes of paper and board packaging waste, with final recycling to take place abroad. The closure of paper production at DS Smith Belišće Croatia in November 2025 left the fund without a contracted domestic processor. The fund said waste firms holding Ministry authorisations had declared they could not sign contracts on its prescribed terms.
Why this mattersWith no domestic processor under contract, Croatia's recovered paper and board must now be exported, showing how one mill closure can strand a national collection system.
- Croatia's Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund opened a public call on 27 October 2026 for collection and processing of up to 150,000 tonnes of paper and board packaging waste
- Final recycling of the collected waste must take place abroad as no domestic processor is currently under contract
- DS Smith Belišće Croatia was the main contracted domestic processor until paper production in Belišće stopped in November 2025
- According to the fund, firms holding Ministry authorisations said they could not sign contracts under the prescribed terms
- CE-ZA-R, Metis and Nevkoš, of the C.I.O.S. group, had held authorisations and were in contract talks in 2025
- The fund had previously said it planned to contract additional domestic processors to reduce reliance on a single dominant operator
Smurfit Westrock is extending a decarbonisation programme that pairs routine equipment replacement with removal of Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, having started at four French sites and completed conversions at five further European sites, according to a company blog of 8 September 2026. The group targets around 20 sites with net-zero Scope 1 and Scope 2 operations by the end of 2027, using heat pumps, electric forklifts and renewable electricity certificates.
Why this mattersBundling decarbonisation into replacement capex gives converters a business case for Scope 1 and 2 cuts at small sites; larger integrated mills, where subsidies may help, come next.
- Programme began at four French sites: Dore, Distribution Vin, Nord Emballages and Somica, as described in a company blog of 8 September 2026
- A further five European sites have already completed similar conversions
- Target is around 20 sites with net-zero Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by the end of 2027
- Measures include heat pumps, electric forklifts and material handling, adiabatic cooling and renewable electricity certificates
- The programme sits within the group's Net Zero Transition Plan, which also sets 2030 Scope 1 and 2 targets, following the 2024 combination of Smurfit Kappa and Westrock
- Larger integrated sites are being evaluated next, where government subsidies could help accelerate investment
Vidrala reported nine-month sales up 2% to EUR 1,146.5m and EBITDA up 2.9% to EUR 338.5m, with net profit of EUR 173.4m, and reiterated full-year 2026 guidance of around EUR 450m EBITDA. The glass packaging group also announced a new buyback of up to 1% of share capital, worth up to EUR 30m (USD 33m), to start once the current programme is complete. This lifts the total programme to 4% of capital and dividends and buybacks combined to about EUR 182m (USD 203m).
Why this mattersLeverage of 0.4x lets Vidrala enlarge buybacks while growth comes from South America rather than a subdued European glass market.
- Nine-month sales rose 2% to EUR 1,146.5m, EBITDA rose 2.9% to EUR 338.5m with a 29.5% margin
- Net profit reached EUR 173.4m; earnings per share rose 6.4% to EUR 4.99
- South America sales grew 16.9% while Europe remained subdued
- Leverage stood at 0.4x pro forma EBITDA for the last twelve months
- Full-year 2026 guidance reiterated: EBITDA around EUR 450m, EPS growth above 5%, free cash flow around EUR 200m
- New buyback of up to 1% of share capital, maximum EUR 30m (USD 33m), lifts the total programme to 4% of capital; dividends and buybacks together reach about EUR 182m (USD 203m)
Glass packaging maker Verallia reported revenue of EUR 829m (USD 923m) in the third quarter of 2026, down 2.1% from EUR 846m a year earlier, as reduced shipment volumes in the wine category offset gains in beer. The group reaffirmed 2026 guidance of adjusted EBITDA around EUR 700m and free cash flow of EUR 220m, and named Stefan Borgas to succeed Michel Giannuzzi as board chairman from the April 2027 AGM.
Why this mattersWine weakness in France and Iberia drove Verallia's volume decline as pricing effects faded, leaving cost savings to hold margins in container glass.
- Q3 2026 revenue was EUR 829m (USD 923m), down 2.1% from EUR 846m in Q3 2025
- Nine-month revenue reached EUR 2.5bn, down 1.6% year on year
- Adjusted EBITDA was EUR 172m in Q3, a margin of 20.8% versus 20.7% in the first half
- Net financial debt fell to EUR 1.7bn at end-September 2026 from EUR 1.9bn a year earlier
- Cost-reduction programme (PAP) saved EUR 37m through September, a 2.2% reduction in net cash production costs
- Stefan Borgas is to become board chairman after the 30 April 2027 AGM, subject to shareholder confirmation, succeeding Michel Giannuzzi
The UK Trade Remedies Authority issued a provisional affirmative determination on 23 October 2026 in a safeguard case brought by Alpek Polyester. It found that a 68% rise in PET resin imports between 2021 and 2025 caused serious injury to UK producers. It proposes a provisional tariff-rate quota of 192,963.17 tonnes from 1 December 2026 to 31 May 2027, allocated 77.6% to the EU, 5.4% to Mexico, 3.7% to Indonesia and 3.1% to Vietnam, with a 65% additional duty on volumes above quota.
Why this mattersPET bought outside the EU faces a 65% duty once small country quotas fill, steering UK bottle-grade resin sourcing towards EU suppliers.
- TRA published a provisional affirmative determination on 23 October 2026 in safeguard case SG0094, opened on 5 August 2026 at Alpek Polyester's request.
- Investigation covers virgin PET (viscosity 74 ml/g or above) and recycled PET under HS codes 3907.61 and 3907.69.
- UK PET imports rose 68% over 2021-2025 while domestic output fell continuously.
- Proposed tariff-rate quota of 192,963.17 tonnes runs from 1 December 2026 to 31 May 2027.
- Quota shares: EU 77.6%, Mexico 5.4%, Indonesia 3.7%, Vietnam 3.1%, other sources 10.2%.
- Imports above quota face a proposed additional safeguard duty of 65%; the provisional measure lasts at most 200 days.
Pakistan's National Tariff Commission issued a preliminary determination on 21 October 2026 imposing a provisional anti-dumping duty of 9.03% on cold-forming and tropical alu-alu foil from China. The duty applies immediately for four months under tariff codes 7607.1990 and 7607.2000. A final ruling is expected within 180 days of the preliminary announcement.
Why this mattersThe provisional duty raises the cost of Chinese cold-forming and tropical foil for Pakistani blister packers for at least four months, pending a final ruling.
- Pakistan's National Tariff Commission issued an affirmative preliminary anti-dumping determination on 21 October 2026.
- The provisional duty is 9.03% on Alu Alu Foil (Cold Forming Foil and Tropical Foil) from China.
- The duty covers tariff codes 7607.1990 and 7607.2000 and takes effect immediately for four months.
- The investigation, launched 23 July 2026, examined dumping from April 2025 to March 2026 and injury data from April 2023 to March 2026.
- A final ruling is expected within 180 days of the preliminary announcement.
Cepi, the European paper industry association, has issued an updated guidance document on the EU Deforestation Regulation, which takes effect on 30 December 2026. The revised edition replaces Cepi's June 2025 guide and folds in the December 2025 amendment, the European Commission's May 2026 simplification package and subsequent 2026 secondary legislation. Cepi will present the document at a Cepinar in November 2026.
Why this mattersPulp and paper producers and converters gain a common reference for EUDR compliance ahead of the regulation's application date.
- EUDR applies from 30 December 2026
- Cepi's updated guidance replaces its June 2025 edition
- Guidance reflects the December 2025 amendment to the Regulation
- Guidance incorporates the Commission's May 2026 simplification package and 2026 secondary legislation
- Cepi will present the document at a Cepinar in November 2026
The US Commerce Department has initiated an antidumping investigation into specified corrugated die-cut food-service boxes from Malaysia, China and Turkey, with the initiation notice published on 26 October 2026 and alleged Malaysian dumping margins of 83.72% to 116.58%. Exporters face quantity-and-value responses by 2 November, scope comments by 9 November and scope rebuttals by 19 November, with the US International Trade Commission's preliminary injury determination expected around 13 November.
Why this mattersMalaysian shipments under the relevant tariff code roughly tripled by value in 2025; the case could add duties on die-cut food-service boxes from three supplier countries.
- US Commerce Department initiation notice published 26 October 2026, applicable from 19 October 2026, covers Malaysia, China and Turkey.
- Alleged Malaysian dumping margins range from 83.72% to 116.58%, figures used only to open the case, not final duties.
- Quantity-and-value responses are due 2 November, scope comments 9 November, scope rebuttals 19 November 2026.
- US import value of the relevant tariff category from Malaysia rose from about USD 2.02m in 2024 to USD 5.94m in 2025.
- Recorded import volume from Malaysia under the category rose from about 1.82m kg to 6.08m kg over the same period.
- The US International Trade Commission's preliminary injury determination is expected around 13 November 2026.
India's Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers has amended the implementation dates of three quality control orders covering woven polypropylene and HDPE sacks used for 50kg cement packaging and for mail handling. The order for HDPE/PP woven cement sacks and for PP/HDPE laminated mail sacks now takes effect on 6 January 2027, while the order for PP woven, laminated, block-bottom valve cement sacks takes effect on 6 November 2026. The notifications, issued on 6 October 2026 under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, only change commencement dates and leave the underlying technical requirements unchanged.
Why this mattersThe delay gives Indian woven-sack converters and cement packers extra months before mandatory BIS certification becomes a market-access requirement.
- Three Quality Control Second Amendment Orders, 2026 were notified on 6 October 2026 under the BIS Act, 2016.
- HDPE/PP woven sacks for 50kg cement packaging (S.O. 5478(E)) now take effect on 6 January 2027.
- PP woven, laminated, block-bottom valve sacks for 50kg cement (S.O. 5479(E)) now take effect on 6 November 2026, two months ahead of the other two orders.
- PP/HDPE laminated woven sacks for mail sorting, storage, transport and distribution (S.O. 5480(E)) now take effect on 6 January 2027.
- The original orders date from December 2023 and have been amended several times since, most recently in January 2026.
- The notifications were signed by Dr G. Venkatesh, Joint Secretary, Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals.
