CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income	$ 292,668	$ 314,739	$ 177,447
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Asset impairment	25,026	5,794	20,017
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	239,140	236,245	217,625
Gain on adjustment of environmental reserves	(10,675)	0	0
Share-based compensation expense	14,334	10,730	13,488
Equity in earnings of affiliates	(5,171)	(11,216)	(9,482)
Cash dividends from affiliated companies	6,620	7,570	6,967
Loss on remeasurement of previously held interest in Conitex Sonoco	0	4,784	0
Net loss on disposition of assets	746	8,635	2,039
Pension and postretirement plan expense	52,741	34,885	78,506
Pension and postretirement plan contributions	(231,234)	(25,373)	(108,579)
Net (decrease)/increase in deferred taxes	16,958	(9,420)	(20,553)
Change in assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions, dispositions and foreign currency adjustments
Trade accounts receivable	59,615	38,193	(43,773)
Inventories	2,631	(6,150)	(16,067)
Payable to suppliers	(25,383)	(4,380)	4,226
Prepaid expenses	4,030	(5,093)	(110)
Accrued expenses	7,471	19,153	(14,606)
Income taxes payable and other income tax items	(6,201)	(19,014)	70,180
Other assets and liabilities	(17,466)	(10,184)	(29,071)
Net cash provided by operating activities	425,850	589,898	348,254
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Purchase of property, plant and equipment	(195,934)	(192,574)	(188,913)
Cost of acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(298,380)	(277,177)	(383,725)
Proceeds from the sale of assets	14,614	24,288	5,271
Other	603	1,335	2,791
Net cash used by investing activities	(479,097)	(444,128)	(564,576)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Proceeds from issuance of debt	276,843	226,885	448,511
Principal repayment of debt	(139,582)	(281,262)	(217,320)
Net increase/(decrease) in commercial paper borrowings	130,000	(4,000)	124,000
Net increase/(decrease) in outstanding checks	(4,486)	(4,282)	7,518
Payment of contingent consideration	(5,500)	0	0
Cash dividends – common	(170,253)	(161,434)	(153,137)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests	(214)	0	0
Purchase of Sonoco Asia noncontrolling interest	0	(35,000)	0
Shares acquired	(9,608)	(14,561)	(6,335)
Net cash provided/(used) by financing activities	77,200	(273,654)	203,237
Effects of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash	941	(6,639)	10,771
Increase/(Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents	24,894	(134,523)	(2,314)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	120,389	254,912	257,226
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	145,283	120,389	254,912
Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosures
Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized	66,768	63,147	57,170
Income taxes paid, net of refunds	$ 82,512	$ 103,442	$ 96,962