Current UCUI
68/100
Moderate-High Uncertainty
+4 points from prior reading
Potato Market Intelligence
Potato Corrugated Box Cost Index
Potato corrugated box cost index data measures a weighted portfolio of fresh, frozen, ingredient, and foodservice cases by linerboard, medium, flute, strength, print, coating, dimensions, conversion, freight, and volume. Procurement can separate fiber-market movement from short runs, specification changes, and service effects.
Market Data
How to read this market
A potato corrugated-box-cost index measures the input and conversion cost of cases used for fresh potatoes, frozen products, ingredients, and foodservice. The market object is a weighted box portfolio by linerboard, medium, flute, strength, printing, coatings, dimensions, recycled content, converting, freight, contract timing, and purchase volume.
Use the data to validate supplier increases, compare box rationalization opportunities, and forecast packaging cost by SKU. Separate fiber-market movement from short runs, printing complexity, stronger board, coating, freight, and service effects.
Data Module
Potato Corrugated Box Cost Index
Market objectweighted corrugated package basket
Primary measuresfiber and conversion cost
Key dimensionsboard, print, coating, SKU, volume
Commercial usepackaging benchmark and forecast
Method contextspecification weights and contract timing
Compare withinvoices, freight, pack rationalization
Analysis
Why this matters
Box prices can rise while linerboard falls if order quantities fragment, print versions proliferate, or specifications become more demanding. Raw paper and converted case economics are related but not identical.
Commercial interpretation should isolate fiber from conversion and service. This prevents procurement from accepting a broad paper-based surcharge when the real driver is portfolio complexity.
Signal 01
Usable Crop Uncertainty Index
UCUI translates crop and market complexity into a simple uncertainty signal. Higher readings indicate greater uncertainty—not necessarily higher prices.
Understand uncertainty. Anticipate risk. Act earlier.
UCUI is designed to analyze potato-industry publications and data signals across regions, varieties, weather, disease, storage, supply, and demand.
WeatherHigh
DiseaseHigh
StorageMedium
SupplyMedium
Single-day snapshot based on a scan of 11,500+ web and social signals. Get historical and real-time data by clicking the button below.
The MassGain Daily
Today’s market analysis.
A daily editorial synthesis of physical potato data, crop signals, market reporting, and what participants should watch next.
September 16, 2026Latest MassGain publication
Potato market steady for now; Russia’s smaller crop is the salient risk
Spot prices are flat and USDA terminal reports read ‘market steady,’ but a renewed forecast for a smaller Russian harvest and recent regional harvest stress leave seasonal import timing and storage losses as the key uncertainty.
Signal 02
MassGain Potato Index
Independent physical-pricing intelligence and market-trend analysis for procurement, forecasting, contracting, and scenario planning.
Core Russet Carton Median
312.45 USD/MT
Latest qualifying physical-market observation
+4.75 (+1.55%)
Price discovery for the physical potato market
MPI is designed to track physical pricing data, price trends, deltas, and divergences across regions and potato types.
Series window45 days
Current public coverageCore russet cartons
Primary source basisQualifying USDA physical rows
UnitUSD per metric tonne
Single-day snapshot based on most recent 45 days worth of data. Limited to US Russets only. Get more complete, global data about all varieties by clicking the button below.
Signal 03
MassGain Spot Reference
An independent spot reference designed for price discovery, contract discussions, procurement comparisons, and risk modeling.
Russet Burbank — U.S. Midsize
305 USD/MT
Demonstration reference format
+1.6% WoW · Confidence: High
A trusted benchmark for pricing, contracts, and risk
MSR is intended to use real transactions and verifiable physical-market data to support negotiations, price checks, contracting, and risk models.
ProductRusset Burbank
SpecificationU.S. midsize, 40–70 count
Reference typePhysical spot benchmark
StatusIn development
Based on most recent 45 days worth of data. Limited to US Russets only. Get more complete, global data about all varities by clicking the button below. Full access also includes historical data -- including depreciated NYMEX/CBOE/EEX spot references -- projections, trends, and AI-driven insights.
The MassGain Product Ladder
From insight to intelligence to action
Four integrated products built for the physical potato market, delivered through public pages, reports, exports, dashboards, and API access.
1
Content
Original research, commentary, aggregated news, and market updates.
- What matters right now?
- What is happening out there?
2
UCUI™
Usable Crop Uncertainty Index: an AI-powered signal of crop risk and market uncertainty.
- Understand uncertainty
- Anticipate risk
- Act earlier
3
MPI™
MassGain Potato Index: independent physical-pricing intelligence and trend analysis.
- Price discovery
- Regional trends
- Procurement planning
4
MSR™
MassGain Spot Reference: an independent benchmark for price discovery and risk modeling.
- Contracts
- Negotiations
- Risk models
Content + UCUI + MPI + MSR + API access
Get historical series, regional detail, constituent data, exports, alerts, and direct data access.
Overview
Who is this for?
This page is for procurement and market-intelligence teams that need a corrugated-box cost index for potato packaging and distribution. Boxes used for fresh potatoes, frozen products, ingredients, and foodservice cases vary by board grade, flute, strength, printing, coatings, dimensions, recycled content, and order volume. MassGain helps users create a benchmark that reflects the actual case portfolio rather than a generic paper-price headline.
The suite can combine linerboard and medium benchmarks with converting, printing, freight, contract timing, and SKU weights. Procurement can test supplier increases and compare box rationalization opportunities. Finance can forecast packaging cost by product and customer. Operations can measure scrap, damage, pallet efficiency, and line performance. Market intelligence can distinguish fiber-price movement from plant-specific conversion or service charges.
Box cost per case can rise even when paper markets fall if volumes fragment, specifications strengthen, or freight changes. MassGain does not recommend packaging designs or provide executable quotes. It supplies a transparent, weighted cost framework that links external inputs with actual purchase volumes, specifications, supplier contracts, and operating outcomes.
Use Case
A potato distributor sees corrugated cost rise 10% despite easing linerboard prices. MassGain shows lower order volumes, added moisture-resistant coating, and more regional print versions increased converting cost. The company consolidates formats and negotiates the remaining market-based component.
FAQs
What belongs in a corrugated box index?
Linerboard, medium, conversion, printing, coatings, freight, specifications, and package weights may belong.
Why can box cost rise when paper falls?
Lower runs, complex printing, stronger board, coatings, freight, and supplier service can offset fiber declines.
How does MassGain make the index relevant?
It weights inputs by actual box specifications, purchase volumes, contracts, plants, and invoice history.
Put this market intelligence to work
Get historical data, regional detail, benchmarks, alerts, exports, and API access tailored to your procurement
and market-analysis needs.
Data and Methodology
Professional market-data standards
MassGain is building transparent public market infrastructure. Each live metric will identify its date, unit, coverage, methodology, and source basis.
Data provenance
MassGain uses public, licensed, contributed, and independently derived physical-market information. Source availability and publication schedules vary.
Timing and revisions
Figures may reflect the latest available observation rather than a same-day transaction. Source data and MassGain calculations may be corrected, restated, or revised.
Not transactional pricing
MassGain figures are informational reference values and do not constitute executable bids, offers, settlements, or guarantees that a transaction can occur at the displayed value.
No individualized advice
Content and data are provided for informational and analytical purposes and do not constitute financial, investment, legal, trading, or individualized procurement advice.
Independent publication
Certain observations may be derived from USDA reports. MassGain is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USDA.
Commercial use and licensing
Public display does not grant rights to reproduce, redistribute, republish, or incorporate MassGain indices or references into commercial products or contracts without authorization.