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Brazil: Trade balance for the forest sector has 4.9% surplus

Jul. 30, 2017 – The trade balance for the Brazilian planted tree industry reached US$2.9 billion from January to May of 2017, growth of 4.9 per cent compared to the same period last year.

During the year, the sector accumulated total exports of US$3.3 billion, 3.2 per cent higher than the same period in 2016. Pulp sales abroad reached US$2.4 billion (+4.1 per cent), while foreign sales of paper were US$767 million (-2.0 per cent) and of wood panels were US$113 million (+25.6 per cent).
 
Production
Brazilian pulp production reached 8 million tons (+5.3 per cent) between January and May of 2017, and paper registered 4.3 million tons (-0.6 per cent).
 
Exports
Demand for Brazilian pulp remains high in the international market. During the first five months of the year 5.5 million tons of pulp were exported, an expansion of 4.7 per cent over the same five months of 2016. The paper sector recorded exports of 892,000 tons (+1.8 per cent), and wood panels reached 490,000 cubic meters (+36.5 per cent).
 
Destination of exports
China has maintained its position as the main destination for Brazilian pulp, representing more than 43 per cent of the total exported by Brazil and generating income of approximately US$1 billion for the year, an increase of 27.7 per cent compared to the first five months of 2016. Meanwhile, Latin America remains the main market for the paper and wood panel sectors, generating revenues of US$492 million (+10.3 per cent) and US$62 million (+26.5 per cent), respectively.
 
Domestic sales
Sales of paper and wood panels on the domestic market remained stable at 2.1 million tons and 2.6 million cubic meters, respectively.
 
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.