BRAZIL - According to IBÁ (Brazilian Tree Industry) reports, in the first semester of 2020 (6M-2020) the consumption of wooden panels (Particleboard, MDF and Hardboard) in Brazil reached 2.84 million m3, a fall of 11.0 percent compared to the 3.19 million m3 reached in 6M-2019.

In 6M-2020, consolidated sales in Brazil’s domestic market reached 2.83 million m3, a decrease of 10.9 percent compared to the same period of 2019 (6M-2019: 3.18 million m3).

The export values of Brazilian wood panels in the first half of 2020 reached USD 124 million, a drop of 8.8 percent compared to the USD 136 million exported in the same period of the previous year.

Latin America was the main regional export market for Brazilian wood panels in 6M-2020, with USD 60 million (6M-2019: USD 89 million), which represented a sharp decrease of 32.6 percent. The North American market followed in importance with USD 39 million, a strong increase of 30.0 percent compared to the same period of 2019 (6M-2019: USD 30.0 million).

In 6M-2020, the volumes exported by Brazilian manufacturers of wood panels showed a decline of 3.3 percent to 580 thousand m3 compared to 600 thousand m3 exported in 6M-2019.

IBÁ is the association in Brazil that brings together the productive chain of planted trees for industrial purposes. The association is led by Paulo Hartung since March 2019.