Mar 02, 2007. /Lesprom Network/. Sonoco will increase prices in North America for all uncoated recycled paperboard by $50 per tonne effective with shipments on March 15, 2007, it was announced on March 1 by Marty Pignone, vice president - paper, North America. This new price change is in addition to the company's previously announced $40 to $50 per tonne price increase in North America on all uncoated recycled paperboard that went into effect on March 1, 2007. "We continue to see rapidly escalating prices for our primary raw material, recovered paper. The cost increase of raw materials in last two months is unprecedented," Pignone said. "The difficulty of obtaining raw materials has forced us to pay premiums above the published market prices. It is essential that we immediately begin to recover these costs." Sonoco, founded in 1899, is a $3.7 billion global manufacturer of industrial and consumer products and provider of packaging services, with more than 300 operations in 35 countries serving customers in 85 nations.