ECUADOR - Ecuadorian PB / MDP exports exceeded USD 117 million in the first eleven months of 2019 (11M-2019), a 5.8 percent growth compared to the same period last year (11M-2018: USD 110.67 million).

It is worth remembering that in 2018 Ecuadorian PB / MDP exports reached a record USD 118.5 million.

Behind this important performance is Novopan del Ecuador whose international shipments in 11M-2019 reached USD 116.08 million, a growth of 6.6 percent compared to the first 11M-2018.

The main external market for Ecuadorian particleboard was Colombia. In 11M-2019, Ecuadorian PB / MDP for more than USD 67 million was shipped to the neighboring country, a slight improvement of 1.9 percent compared to exports made in the same period of 2018 (11M-2018: USD 65.88 million).

Peru was the second market in importance for Ecuadorian PB / MDP. With imports for USD 43.23 million and a solid growth of 10.3 percent compared to the same period of 2018 (11M-2018: USD 39.20 million). Peru and Colombia represent about 94.2 percent of Ecuadorian PB / MDP exports in the first eleven months of 2019.

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

Ecuadorian PB / MDP exports reached USD 10.87 million in November 2019, a 12.2 percent growth compared to the same month last year.