Sonoco Announces North America Tube and Core Price Increase

HARTSVILLE, S.C.--(Business Wire)--Sonoco (NYSE:SON), the world's largest producer of tubes and
cores, today announced it will increase prices for its paper-based
tubes and cores and related specialty products by 8 percent in the
U.S. and Canada, effective with shipments on or after February 15,
2008.

"We are experiencing a prolonged period of unprecedented raw
material and energy inflation," said John Colyer, Sonoco's division
vice president and general manager, IPD-North America. "While we have
taken action to reduce our costs and minimize the impact on our
customers, we have not been able to keep up with these inflationary
pressures and must take steps to recover our costs. We are continuing
to closely monitor the paperboard market and will make additional
pricing moves as required."

About Sonoco

Founded in 1899, Sonoco is a $3.7 billion global manufacturer of
industrial and consumer products and provider of packaging services,
with more than 330 operations in 35 countries, serving customers in
some 85 nations. For more information on the Company, visit our Web
site at http://www.sonoco.com/.

Sonoco
Roger Schrum, 843-339-6018
roger.schrum@sonoco.com
www.sonoco.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008