BRAZIL – As reported by IBÁ (Brazilian Tree Industry), in the first quarter of 2020 (Q1-2020) the consumption of wooden panels (Particleboard, MDF and Hardboard) in Brazil reached 1.60 million m3, a drop of 1.5 percent compared to 1.62 million of m3 reached in 1Q-2019.

In 1Q-2020, consolidated sales in the Brazilian domestic market reached 1.60 million m3, a decrease of 1.2 percent compared to 1Q-2019 (1.62 million m3).

The export value of Brazilian wooden panels in 1Q-2020 reached USD 68 million, an improvement of 3.0 percent compared to USD 66 million exported in the same period of the previous year.

Latin America was the main regional export market for Brazilian wooden panels in 1Q-2020, with USD 38 million (1Q-2019: USD 44 million), which represented a sharp drop of 13.6 percent. The North American market continued in importance with USD 18 million, a strong increase of 38.5% compared to 1Q-2019 (USD 13 million).

In 1Q-2020 the exported volume by Brazilian wooden panel manufacturers presented an improvement of 6.5 percent to 313 thousand m3 compared to 294 thousand m3 exported in 1Q-2019.

IBÁ is the association that brings together the productive chain of planted trees for industrial purposes. The Association is chaired by Paulo Hartung, who assumed the executive presidency of the entity on March 18, 2019.