BRAZIL – Brazil’s cultivated tree industry posted record-breaking results in 2024, reaching a trade surplus of USD 15.7 billion, up 23.5% compared to 2023, according to Mosaico Ibá, a bulletin from the Brazilian Tree Industry (Ibá).

The sector’s performance was led by strong global demand for pulp, which saw a 33.2% increase in exports, totaling USD 10.6 billion—a new high.

Other forest-based products also surged: wood panels rose 36.6% (USD 409 million), plywood grew 22.6% (USD 793 million), and paper exports climbed 4.6% (USD 2.5 billion). On the production side, Brazil set records with 25.5 million tonnes of pulp (+5.2%) and 11.3 million tonnes of paper (+4.6%).

In 2024, the cultivated tree sector accounted for 4.7% of Brazil’s total exports and increased its share of agribusiness exports to 9.5%, making it the fourth-largest category within the country’s agro sector.

China remained the top buyer, importing USD 4.8 billion (+20.8%), with 96% of that in pulp. Yet Europe and North America posted stronger relative growth: Europe rose 45% to USD 3.6 billion, and North America jumped 24% to USD 3.5 billion—led by rising demand for pulp and wood products.

“These results show how Brazil’s cultivated tree industry continues to gain ground, even amid global uncertainty,” said Paulo Hartung, president of Ibá. “The 58% increase in sales to Europe and 40% to North America is a clear sign of trust in our sector’s productivity and sustainability.”