Brazil's Pulp and Paper Sector Sees Growth in Production, Exports, in First Half 2022

Aug. 31, 2022 - According to the Brazilian Tree Industry (Ibá), in the first half of 2022, pulp production grew 7.8% compared to the same period of the previous year, and paper production showed a 3.1% increase.

Editor's note: The Brazilian paper segment includes: packaging and wrapping, printing and writing, tissue, newsprint, cardboard, and other grades.

"The forest products industry is going hand in hand with the new green economy that is being designed in Brazil and around the world," stated Ambassador José Carlos da Fonseca Jr., Ibá's Executive Director. "Companies in the cultivated tree sector develop more than 5,000 bioproducts essential to our daily life such as paper packaging, toilet paper, diapers, laminate floors, furniture, wood panels, among many others. With technology and innovation, items are sustainable alternatives to those of fossil origin.

"Consumers are demanding more sustainable products, and the process involves everything from materials and production to the life of these items as a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This demonstrates how ready the industry is to meet the demands of society," da Fonseca concluded.

Following its mission to provide bioproducts to society around the world, the Brazilian forest-based industry has recorded advances in exports of all segments. In values, the sector brought foreign exchange to the country that totaled US$ 5.5 billion (+33.0%) between January and June 2022. This result favored the trade balance of the sector, which totaled US$ 5.0 billion (+38.8%).

In the first half of 2022, China remains the main destination for pulp exports produced in Brazil, reaching US$ 1.5 billion traded. Latin America remains Brazil's leading paper buyer and has totaled US$ 966 million in product negotiations. The region is also the foreign market that most acquired wood panels, which totaled US$ 126.3 million.

Pulp, Paper, and Wood Panels Performance in First Half 2022

In the first half of 2022, pulp production reached 12 million tons (+7.8%). Paper work also showed progress in the same period, with 5.4 million tons, a growth of 3.1%. Packaging papers, which reached 3.0 million tons (+8.1%) and sanitary papers (+1.2%) were highlighted. Charcoal reached 1.8 million tons (+4.4%).

Paper sales in Brazil in the first half totaled 2.7 million tons. The wood panels, in turn, totaled 3.4 million m3.

Pulp exports between January and June totaled 9.0 million tons, a growth of 15.9%. Paper exports totaled 1.3 million tons in the same period (+40.5%).

The Brazilian Tree Industry (Ibá) is the association responsible for the institutional representation of the production chain of planted trees, from the field to the industry, together with its main stakeholders. Launched in April 2014, it represents 49 companies and nine state entities of products originating from the cultivation of planted trees — wood panels, laminate floors, cellulose, paper, energy forests and biomass — as well as independent producers of planted trees and institutional investors.

SOURCE: The Brazilian Tree Industry (Ibá)