Brazil Pulp Production Shows Positive Results for Q1/2017

Brazil pulp production recorded 3.0% growth in the first quarter of 2017, totaling 4.69 million metric tons against the 4.55 million metric tons recorded in the same period of last year. In the paper sector, the surplus continues with exports that reached a volume of 544,000 metric  tons sold between January and March, a 5.6% increase compared with the same period in 2016 when 515,000 metric tons were traded. In the wood panels segment, domestic sales rose 2.9%, reaching the 1.6 million cubic meter mark.

Other performance indicators for the planted tree sector a6re available in the 35th edition of Cenários Ibá, the monthly bulletin of the Brazilian Tree Industry.

Export volume. In the first quarter of 2017, the volume of pulp exports reached 3.3 million metric tons, an increase of 5.5% over the same period in 2016, when 3.1 million metric tons were exported.  The wood panels segment recorded exports of 284,000 cubic meters (+45.6%).

 

Export revenue. From January to February of 2017, the sector recorded exports of $1.9 billion (-2.6%); pulp reached $1.4 billion (-4.3%), paper registered $464 million (-0.2%), and wood panels $64 million (+25.5%). As a result, the balance of trade in the sector registered a positive balance of $1.7 billion during the first three months of the year (-0.9%).

Destination of exports. China continues to be the main destination for the Brazilian pulp sector, with a 44% share. In the first quarter, revenues for this country increased by 21.6% ($620 million) compared with the same period last year. Meanwhile, Latin American countries continued to be the main markets for paper and wood panels in the period, with exports to this region increasing 17.5% ($295 million) and 25% ($35 million), respectively.

Production. Brazilian pulp production surpassed 4.6 million metric tons (+3.0%) between January and March of 2017, and paper registered 2.5 million metric tons (-2.2%).

Domestic sales. In the first quarter of 2017, paper sales on the domestic market reached 1.3 million metric tons (-3.0%), while the wood panels sector registered sales of 1.6 million m³ (+2.9%).

The Brazilian Tree Industry (Ibá) is the association responsible for institutionally representing the planted tree production chain, from the fields to the factory, with its main stakeholders. Launched in April 2014, it represents 60 companies and nine state entities for products originating from planted trees (wood panels, laminate floors, pulp, paper, energy forests and biomass) in addition to independent producers of planted trees and institutional investors. More information is available online.