Brazilian pulp, wood panels and paper exports increase in 2014
Despite the unfavorable Brazilian macroeconomic scenario in 2014, with economic growth stalling and inflation on the rise, the planted trees industry managed to maintain its production levels and recorded new highs in some of its key indicators, as a result of a series of adjustment measures adopted by the companies. The pulp segment made significant progress. From January through December 2014, exports totaled 10.6 million tons, a 12.6% increase over the previous year, when 9.4 million tons were exported. Overall pulp production also recorded a high, reaching 16.5 million tons, an 8.8% increase compared to 2013, when 15.1 million tons were produced.
In the wood panels segment, production reached 8 million cubic meters in 2014, 1.1% higher than during the same period in 2013. Paper production remained stable, totaling 10.4 million tons in 2014.
Please see below the other performance indicators for the planted trees industry, in the eighth edition of Cenários Ibá, the monthly bulletin of the Brazilian Tree Industry.
Exports – From January through December 2014, the volume of wood panel exports totaled 421,000 m³, a 20.6% increase year-over-year. Paper exports reached 1.8 million tons in the 2014 YTD, a 1.1% decrease compared to the same period in 2013.
Exports revenues – Pulp, paper and wood panel export revenues in 2014 totaled US$ 7.4 billion, up 1.1% compared to 2013, when total revenues reached US$ 7.3 billion. The industry’s trade surplus for the year totaled US$ 5.5 billion, a 2.8% increase year-over-year. Europe is still the main destination for Brazilian pulp, answering for approximately 40% of the revenue, followed by China and North America, with 30% and 20% respectively. Shipments to China increased 8.2% in 2014.
Domestic Sales – From January through December 2014, pulp sales in the domestic market grew 5.5% year-over-year, reaching 1.8 million tons. In 2014, paper and wood panel sales remained stable, totaling 5.7 million tons and 7.1 million m³, respectively.
Outlook – “2015 will be a year of important challenges for the sector, especially in view of the tax adjustments that are being announced by the economic team as President Dilma Rousseff’s second term gets under way. Competitiveness will continue to be a key concern on the industry’s agenda this year, mainly as in order to stand up to global players that are becoming increasingly competitive”, says Elizabeth de Carvalhaes, Ibá’s CEO.
