BRAZIL – As reported by IBA (Brazilian Tree Industry), in the first three months of 2023 (1Q-2023) the consumption of wood-based panels (Particleboard/MDP, MDF/HDF and Hardboard) in Brazil reached 1.64 million m3, a slight drop of 1.1 percent compared to the 1.65 million m3 reached in 1Q-2022.

Brazilian wood-based panel export values in 1Q-2023 reached USD 69.1 million, representing a strong decrease of 42.6 percent compared to USD 120.3 million exported in 1Q-2022 by Brazilian wood-based panel manufacturers.

Latin America was again the main regional export market for Brazilian wood-based panels in 1Q-2023, with USD 38.7 million (1Q-2022: USD 66.6 million), which represented a strong fall of 41.9 percent. The North American market followed in importance with USD 16.6 million, but also had a stron fall of 57.4 percent compared to 1Q-2022 (USD 39.0 million).

In 1Q-2023 the volumes exported by Brazilian wood panel manufacturers presented a strong decrease of 38.3 percent with 235 thousand m3 compared to 381 thousand m3 exported in 1Q-2022.