About the Moulded Pulp Tray Index
PackIndex MOULDED_P tracks the material cost of a moulded pulp tray (300×200×50mm) — used in food service, egg cartons, and electronics protective packaging. Growing rapidly as a sustainable alternative to EPS. Primary drivers are OCC and NBSK pulp.
North America Reference
| Market | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| USA | $0.188 per unit | PackIndex benchmark |
| Canada | CAD converted | Live FX at PackIndex |
| Mexico | MXN converted | Live FX at PackIndex |
Latin America Reference
| Market | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | BRL converted | BRL/MXN converted |
| Mexico | MXN converted | Live rates at PackIndex |
| Colombia / Chile | COP / CLP | Live rates at PackIndex |
What a real Moulded Pulp Tray supplier quote looks like
The PackIndex MOULDED_P index tracks material cost only. A real delivered supplier quote for a moulded pulp tray typically runs 40–50% higher once conversion, overhead, and converter margin are added. Use MOULDED_P as the material-cost anchor for benchmarking — not as the expected invoice price.
| Cost component | Typical contribution |
|---|---|
| Material (Moulded Pulp Tray — this index) | $218.7 $/unit |
| Conversion & labour | +12–18% |
| Overhead | +8–15% |
| Converter margin | +10–18% |
| Indicative delivered quote | $306.2 – $328.0 $/unit |
The real spread varies by region, annual volume band, print/spec complexity, and freight. A quote landing more than ~50% above the MOULDED_P index for a standard spec is worth challenging — benchmark it line-by-line with the PackIndex Quote Analyser.
Moulded Pulp Tray — market activity since 2026-05-01
Since 2026-05-01, the PackIndex MOULDED_P index recorded 38 price updates · 18 major moves · high-volatility period since 2026-05-01. The current level and the recent path are available on the Essential plan.
Key Price Drivers
The Moulded Pulp Tray index is driven by movements in:
OCC NBSKTrack all drivers live on PackIndex.
Related PACKIQ Agents
| Agent | Type | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Quote Analyser | PACKIQ AI Agent | Run → |
| Negotiation Brief | PACKIQ AI Agent | Run → |
| Invoice Audit | PACKIQ AI Agent | Run → |
Common questions
How much does a moulded pulp tray cost?
The PackIndex MOULDED_P index puts moulded pulp tray material cost at $218.7 $/unit. A real delivered supplier quote typically runs 40–50% higher once conversion, overhead, and converter margin are added.
Why is my moulded pulp tray quote higher than the PackIndex index?
PackIndex MOULDED_P tracks material cost only. Conversion and labour (+12–18%), overhead (+8–15%), and converter margin (+10–18%) sit on top, so delivered quotes typically land 40–50% above the index value of $218.7.
How often is the moulded pulp tray price index updated?
PackIndex updates the MOULDED_P index weekly, using verified market data and contributor Pulse signals.
How does moulded pulp compare to rigid plastic on total cost?
Moulded pulp trays are driven by recovered fibre (OCC) and mill energy rather than resin — so they hedge polymer volatility and avoid plastic-linked EPR eco-modulation penalties. Compare MOULDED_P against resin-driven formats to quantify a switch on both material and compliance cost.
Live Moulded Pulp Tray Data on PackIndex
Full interactive charts, 12-week trend, BOM breakdown, and Pulse signals — free to browse.
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