COLOMBIA - Colombian imports of particleboard / MDP reached USD 76.29 million in the first nine months of 2018 (9M-2018), which represented an increase of 20.5% compared to the same period of 2017 (USD 63.51 million).

The main supplier country to the Colombian market continues to be Ecuador, with USD 53.34 million in 9M-2018 compared to USD 42.52 million in 9M-2017, which represented a growth of 25.4%.

In second place was Brazil, with USD 10.35 million in 9M-2018, growth of 5.4% compared to USD 9.81 million in 9M-2017. The third largest supplier country in 9M-2018 was Chile with USD 9.68 million (9M-2017: USD 8.96 million). Spain was the fourth supplier country in 9M-2018 with USD 1.15 million.

Among the particleboard importing companies in 9M-2017 the leader was again Madecentro with USD 45.65 and a growth of 18.8% compared to the same period of 2017. Madecentro’s share of total particleboard imports was 59.6%, followed by Duratex Colombia (formerly Tablemac) with USD 8.29 million.

Furniture manufacturer Maderkit, with a growth in its particleboard / MDP imports of 131% in 9M-2017, was the third largest importer with USD 7.72 million, surpassing Arauco Colombia (USD 6.71 million) and Masisa Colombia (USD 3.45 million).