ECUADOR – Ecuadorian exports of particleboard (PB/MDP) reached USD 198.17 million in 2021, a growth of 53.7 per cent compared to the previous year (2020: USD 128.96 million) and 54.69 per cent compared to 2019 (USD 128.10 million).

The value of Ecuadorian PB/MDP exports in 2021 constitutes a new annual record.

The outstanding export performance in 2021 was led by Novopan del Ecuador whose exports reached USD 195.75 million and accounted for 98.7 percent of total exports for the year.

The main foreign market for Ecuadorian chipboard was Colombia. In 2021, Ecuadorian chipboard was shipped for USD 107.22 million to the neighboring country, representing an improvement of 46.2 percent compared to the previous year (2020: USD 73.36 million).

Peru was the second most important foreign market for the Ecuadorian agglomerate in 2021. With purchases of USD 67.72 million and a strong increase of 49.8 percent compared to 2020 (USD 45.2 million). Peru together with Colombia accounted for 88.3 percent of Ecuadorian exports of chipboard in 2021.

While in Colombia there is local production of chipboard by Duratex and Primadera, in Peru domestic production is non-existent since the closure of Tableros Peruanos S.A. (Tapesa) in early 2017.