LAKE FOREST, Ill. - Jul. 23, 2025 - Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE: PKG) today reported second quarter 2025 net income of $242 million, or $2.67 per share, and net income of $224 million, or $2.48 per share, excluding special items. Second quarter net sales were $2.2 billion in 2025 and $2.1 billion in 2024.
Commenting on reported results, Mark W. Kowlzan, Chairman and CEO, said, “We operated very well during the quarter, delivering strong earnings and cash flows as well as higher margins in the Packaging segment. Pricing in the Packaging segment was consistent with expectations as we fully realized our earlier announced price increases. Despite cautious ordering patterns from customers, corrugated products volume was solid and steady throughout the quarter, with per day shipments exceeding the second quarter of 2024 and the first quarter of 2025. As expected, export containerboard sales were lower. We ran our containerboard mills to meet demand and drew down inventory to end at targeted levels. The Paper segment delivered another profitable quarter with strong margin performance, as we realized our earlier price increases. We continued to successfully manage costs across all of our operations, executing our capital projects and efficiency initiatives, which have helped offset inflation.”
“Looking ahead as we move from the second and into the third quarter,” Mr. Kowlzan added, “while our corrugated products customers have remained cautious into July as economic uncertainty persists, we expect higher corrugated shipments, which will drive increased containerboard production. Export containerboard sales will be lower due to the effects of the global trade environment. We will build some containerboard inventory ahead of our fourth quarter maintenance outage at the DeRidder mill. We expect prices and mix in the Packaging segment to be relatively flat. We also expect flat pricing in the Paper segment and expect production and sales to increase with the International Falls mill outage completed in the second quarter and seasonal back-to-school orders. We have no scheduled maintenance outages during the third quarter and expect maintenance outage expense to be lower. Freight costs will be higher with the full effect of rail rate increases at our mills. Operating costs will be near second quarter levels and fiber costs will be slightly lower. Considering these items, we expect third quarter earnings of $2.80 per share, excluding special items. Our guidance does not include any possible impact from the pending acquisition of the Greif containerboard business, which is subject to satisfaction of certain conditions, including regulatory approval.”
We present our earnings expectation for the upcoming quarter excluding special items as special items are difficult to predict and quantify and may reflect the effect of future events. We expect to incur acquisition and integration related costs for our pending acquisition of the Greif containerboard business during the third quarter; however, additional special items may arise due to third quarter events.
PCA is the third largest producer of containerboard products and a leading producer of uncoated freesheet paper in North America. PCA operates eight mills and 85 corrugated products plants and related facilities.
Some of the statements in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements about our future earnings and financial condition, expected benefits from acquisitions and restructuring activities, our industry and our business strategy. Statements that contain words such as “will”, “should”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “intend”, “estimate”, “hope” or similar expressions, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations of PCA. Because forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, the plans, actions and actual results of PCA could differ materially. The factors that could cause plans, actions and results to differ materially from PCA’s current expectations include the following: the impact of general economic conditions; conditions in the paper and packaging industries, including competition, product demand and product pricing; fluctuations in wood fiber and recycled fiber costs; fluctuations in purchased energy costs; the possibility of unplanned outages or interruptions at our principal facilities; and legislative or regulatory requirements, particularly concerning environmental matters, as well as those identified under Item 1A. Risk Factors in PCA’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available at the SEC’s website at “www.sec.gov”.
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