Brazil: Pulp production shows positive results for the first quarter of this year
Pulp production recorded 3.0% growth in the first quarter of 2017, totaling 4.69 million tons against the 4.55 million tons recorded in the same period of last year.
In the paper sector, the surplus continues with exports that reached a volume of 544 thousand tons sold between January and March, a 5.6% increase compared to the same period in 2016 when 515 thousand tons were traded. In the wood panels segment domestic sales rose 2.9%, reaching the 1.6 million cubic meter mark.
Export volume
In the first quarter of 2017, the volume of pulp exports reached 3.3 million tons, an increase of 5.5% over the same period in 2016, when 3.1 million 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 US$ 1.9 billion (-2.6%); pulp reached US$ 1.4 billion (-4.3%), paper registered US$ 464 million (-0.2%), and wood panels US$ 64 million (+25.5%). As a result the balance of trade in the sector registered a positive balance of US$ 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% (US$ 620 million) compared to 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% (US$ 295 million) and 25% (US$ 35 million), respectively.
Production
Brazilian pulp production surpassed 4.6 million tons (+3.0%) between January and March of 2017, and paper registered 2.5 million tons (-2.2%).
Domestic sales
In the first quarter of 2017, paper sales on the domestic market reached 1.3 million tons (-3.0%), while the wood panels sector registered sales of 1.6 million m³ (+2.9%).
About IBÁ
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.
