BRAZIL – According to latest report from IBA  (Industria Brasilera de Arvores), once again sales and domestic consumption of wood panels were down in March 2016 compared to same period last year.  

In March 2016 domestic sales reached 590,000 m3 compared to 708,000 m3 in the same month 2015. This represents a 16.7% drop. Apparent consumption reached 590,000 m3 in March 2016 that compares with 709,000 m3 in March 2015 (- 16.8%).

Consolidated domestic sales in the first three months of 2016 totaled 1,551,000 m3 compared to 1,753,000 m3 in the same period 2015 that represents a 11.5% decrease in the period. Likewise apparent consumption fell in the first quarter 2016 (-11.7%) dropping from 1,757,000 m3 in 1Q-15 to 1,552,000 m3 in the 1Q-16.

Brazilian wood panel manufacturers, given the strong local recession, have been able to slightly compensate drops in the domestic market by exporting more product. In March 2016 exports reached 71,000 m3, an increase of 42% compared to March 2015 (50.000m3).

Brazil Wood Panels in March

Thousand m3

Brazil Wood Panels 1Q

Thousand m3