About the Folding Carton Index
PackIndex CRTN tracks the material cost of a folding carton in FBB/SBB board — the reference format for pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic secondary packaging. The 200×150×60mm tuck-end carton is the reference spec. Primary drivers are FBB and SBB board prices.
North America Reference
| Market | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| USA | $0.361 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 Folding Carton supplier quote looks like
The PackIndex CRTN index tracks material cost only. A real delivered supplier quote for a folding carton typically runs 40–50% higher once conversion, overhead, and converter margin are added. Use CRTN as the material-cost anchor for benchmarking — not as the expected invoice price.
| Cost component | Typical contribution |
|---|---|
| Material (Folding Carton — this index) | $0.458 $/unit |
| Conversion & labour | +12–18% |
| Overhead | +8–15% |
| Converter margin | +10–18% |
| Indicative delivered quote | $0.641 – $0.687 $/unit |
The real spread varies by region, annual volume band, print/spec complexity, and freight. A quote landing more than ~50% above the CRTN index for a standard spec is worth challenging — benchmark it line-by-line with the PackIndex Quote Analyser.
Folding Carton 90-day trend
Over the last 90 days the PackIndex CRTN index moved +1.61% — from $0.451 (2026-04-01) to $0.458 (2026-06-17).
| Window | Start | Latest | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90 days | $0.451 (2026-04-01) | $0.458 (2026-06-17) | +1.61% |
Full interactive history, OHLC candles, and fluctuation tools on PackIndex.
Key Price Drivers
The Folding Carton index is driven by movements in:
FBB SBB WLCTrack 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 folding carton cost?
The PackIndex CRTN index puts folding carton material cost at $0.458 $/unit. A real delivered supplier quote typically runs 40–50% higher once conversion, overhead, and converter margin are added.
Why is my folding carton quote higher than the PackIndex index?
PackIndex CRTN 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 $0.458.
How often is the folding carton price index updated?
PackIndex updates the CRTN index weekly, using verified market data and contributor Pulse signals.
How much has the folding carton price changed recently?
Over the last 90 days the PackIndex CRTN index moved +1.61% — from $0.451 (2026-04-01) to $0.458 (2026-06-17).
Live Folding Carton Data on PackIndex
Full interactive charts, 12-week trend, BOM breakdown, and Pulse signals — free to browse.
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