2018 was a record year for the planted forest sector in Brazil and the trade balance advanced 28% due to an increase in exports of pulp, wood-based panels and paper, according to the Brazilian Tree Industry (Ibá).
The sector exported $10.7 billion, an increase of 26% compared to 2017. There was a rise in exports of pulp (32%), wood panels (7%) and paper (8%).
The main buyer of Brazilian pulp in 2018 was China which imported $3.5 billion, up 38% year-on-year. Paper sector exports to mainly Latin American expanded 13% year-on-year in 2018.
Wood-based panel exports rose 4% in 2018, with some 1.3 million cubic metres being exported. The main market for wood-based panels in 2018 was Europe which saw a rise of 160% year-on-year.
However exports to markets in Asia and Oceania declined in 2018. Sales in the Brazilian domestic market expanded around 3% in 2018 compared to 2017.
