Hartsville, S.C.-based Sonoco Products Co. will increase prices in North America for all uncoated recycled boxboard grades by $40 per ton.

The price hike will be effective with shipments on Jan. 21. In addition, prices for some specialty grades of paper will be increased.

“The cost of recovered paper, our primary raw material, remains near historical highs and we are expecting pricing to increase further as we enter 2008,” Marty Pignone, vice president of paper for North America, says. “In addition, we are continuing to shoulder higher energy and other operating expenses, which make it essential that we begin recovering these higher costs.”