BRAZIL – While the market registered an 8.1% decrease, according to data from the industry’s association in Brazil, ABIPA,

Eucatex one of the leading panel board manufacturers, reported a 6.6% decline in sales and exports in 2Q14 for its wood segment against 2Q13.

As a result, recurring EBITDA totaled R$ 43.3 million, down 27.7% from 2Q13. Recurring EBITDA margin stood at 17.0%, down from 21.4% in the same period the previous year. In 1H14, recurring EBITDA totaled R$ 91.1 million, down 10.7% from 1H13, and recurring EBITDA margin was 17.6%, down 1.6 p.p.

The outlook for the coming months is of a rebuilding of stocks across the supply chain and of a slight recovery in the construction sector, since these markets are traditionally impacted positively by the seasonal factor in the second half of the year. However, Eucatex remains cautious, since the main drivers of the company’s business have been deteriorating of late.