CHILE - Surpassing 10 million cubic meters of installed capacity, Chilean Arauco could become the second largest global producer of wood panels with production plants in 9 countries and 4 continents.
This milestone would be achieved with the recent acquisition from Portugal's Sonae Industria of 50% interest of its Spanish subsidiary Tafisa to form Sonae Arauco, as well as with the announced of investment in a new MDP plant in the US with a nominal capacity of 750,000 m3 / year, estimated to start panel production in late 2018.
In the global ranking Arauco would only be second to Austrian manufacturer Kronospan whose capacity is estimated today at 16.9 million cubic meters, primarily in Eastern Europe, and a plant in the US. Reaching this milestone depends on the European authorities authorization of the Sonae / Arauco transaction, and licensing and incentives from state and local agencies in Michigan, USA. As well as final approval of Arauco’s board of directors to start of construction of the new particleboard plant in the US.
Arauco Wood Panel Capacity in m3
Total MDP/PB: 5,314,000 m3
Total MDF/HDF: 5,019,000 m3
* Plants in Germany, Spain, Portugal and South Africa. Arauco: 50% ownership
Source: Arauco
