BRAZIL (Notifix) – In the first half of 2013 demand for wood based panels in Brazil reached 3.41 million cubic meters compared to 3.22 million cubic meters in the same period of 2012 +6.0%).

PB/MDP demand reached 1.59 million cubic meters while MDF demand hit 1.82 million cubic meters in the period.

This growth in panel demand maintains the trend that between 2009 and 2012 has represented a 40% increase, going from 4.78 to 6.70 million cubic meters, and taking panel demand per thousand population to 33.7 cubic meters (2009: 24.1 m3).

In the first half 2013 MDF panels once again had a higher demand than PB/MDP which has characterized the Brazilian panel market since 2010.