BRASÍLIA: The planted tree industry of Brazil continues to stand out due to its important contribution to the country’s balance of trade surplus. From January through July 2016, the sector recorded a $ 3.8 billion surplus, a 7.2% growth year-over-year. Exports revenue from pulp, wood panels and paper was mainly responsible for this result, reaching R$ 4.4 billion ($1.4 billion) year-to-date, as the Brazilian Tree Industry (Ibá) said in the press release received by Lesprom Network.
“When we evaluate the foreign market the landscape is very distinct. Brazilian pulp exports are still on the rise, with noteworthy mention to China, which is currently the main destination of this input, with a share of 37% in the revenue. Foreign sales for the Chinese market totaled $ 1.1 billion year-to-date. In turn, paper and wood panel exports are concentrated in Latin American countries, respectively 58% and 54% of the total,” comments Elizabeth de Carvalhaes, CEO of the Brazilian Tree Industry (Ibá).
Brazil’s pulp exports totaled 7.5 million tons in 2016 year-to-date, a 12.7% growth year-over-year. Paper exports increased 5.1%, totaling 1.2 million tons, and wood panel exports increased 56%, with half a million cubic meters exported. Brazilian pulp production surpassed 10 million tons this year, 8.9% increase year-over-year. Paper production remained stable at 6 million tons, the same figures as last year. In 2016 year-to-date, domestic paper sales achieved 3 million tons, remaining stable year-over-year. In the wood panels segment, domestic sales achieved 3.7 million cubic metres, 5% lower year-over-year.
