Export values from the planted tree sector grew 25.5% in 2018
The trade balance advanced 28.4% with higher export values for three products: pulp, panels, and paper
Cenários Ibá, the bulletin of the Brazilian Tree Industry (Ibá), indicates that 2018 was a record year for the sector, with improved performance in exports and the trade balance. The sector exported US$ 10.7 billion, growth of 25.5% over 2017. Increases were seen in exports of pulp (+31.5%), wood panels (+7.3%), and paper (+8.3%). The trade balance for the planted tree sector stood at US$ 9.7 billion, which represents an increase of 28.4% compared to 2017. The sector’s share of the trade balance totaled 4.5% of all Brazilian exports combined and 10.6% of agribusiness exports.
The main market for Brazilian pulp continues to be China, which imported US$ 3.5 billion of this product, an increase of 37.7% compared to 2017. The paper segment is still focusing on exports to Latin America, where the value traded rose by 13.0%. Latin America is also the main destination for wood panels, with US$ 179 million of this product traded, an increase of 18.5%.
Below are the performance indicators for the planted tree sector in 2018, in the 56th edition of Cenários Ibá, the monthly bulletin of the Brazilian Tree Industry.
Production – Pulp production remained high, closing the year with the best performance in the history of the sector. Over the twelve months of 2018 21.0 million tons were produced, an increase of 7.7%. Paper remained stable, with 10.4 million tons produced throughout 2018; tissue paper rose by 3.7%.
Domestic Sales - Wooden panels sales continued to rise, with an increase of 2.9% over the accumulated value for 2017 and 6.7 million m³ sold in the domestic market. Meanwhile, domestic sales of paper held steady at 5.5 million tons (+0.5%).
Export Volumes - Pulp maintained its strong pace of foreign sales and advanced 11.5% in 2018, with 14.7 million tons sold. Exports of wood panels expanded by 4.2% during 2018, with 1.3 million m³ of this product directed to foreign markets.
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 50 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.