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Brazilian pulp production remains strong: Q1 2017

Jun. 12, 2017 – Pulp production grew 5.1 per cent in the first quarter of 2017 compared to the same period last year, totalling 6.32 million tons against 6.02 million in 2016.

In the wood panels segment, exports are in the spotlight with a growth of 39.8 per cent, reaching 376,000 cubic meters sold abroad between January and April this year. Meanwhile positive results continue for paper, with exports reaching 702,000 tons sold during the period; this represents growth of 1.9 per cent compared to the same period of 2016, when 689,000 tons were traded.
 
Export volume
In the first four months of 2017, the volume of pulp exports reached 4.34 million tons. This is an increase of 1.6 per cent over the same period in 2016, when 4.28 million tons were exported. The paper sector recorded exports of 702,000 tons (+1.9 per cent) and wood panels reached 376,000 cubic meters (+39.8 per cent).
 
Export revenue
From January to April 2017 the sector recorded exports of US$2.6 billion, 1.7 per cent lower than this figure for the same period in 2016; pulp reached US$1.87 billion (-2.2 per cent), paper registered US$601 million (-3.2 per cent), and wood panels US$86 million (+24.6 per cent). As a result, the balance of trade in the sector registered a positive balance of US$2.24 billion during the first four months of the year (-0.5 per cent compared to 2016).
 
Export destinations
More than 44 per cent of the pulp Brazil exported went to China, representing income of US$829 million and a 26.6 per cent increase over the first four months of 2017 and 2016. Latin American countries were the main markets for paper and wood panels in this period, with exports to this region totalling US$382 million (+10.4 per cent) and US$48 million (+26.3 per cent), respectively.
 
Production
Brazilian pulp production surpassed 6.3 million tons, growing 5.1 per cent between January and April of 2017 in comparison with 2016, and paper registered 3.4 million tons (-1.7 per cent).
 
Domestic sales
During the first four months of 2017, paper sales on the domestic market reached 1.69 million tons, a drop of 2.9 per cent compared with the same period last year, while the wooden panel sector registered sales of 2.09 million m³ (-0.8 per cent).
 
The Brazilian Tree Industry (Ibá) is an association that represents the planted tree production chain, from the fields to the factory, with its main stakeholders.