PERU – As a result of the negative effects of the coronavirus on trade, Peruvian imports of particleboard / MDP (PB / MDP) dropped 33 percent in the first six months of 2020 (6M-2020) as they reached USD 35.1 million compared to USD 52.5 million in the same period of last year.

Novopan Peru was the main PB/MDP importing company in 6M-2020 with USD 13.2 million compared to USD 24.0 million in the same period of 2019, which represented a drop of 44.8%, the largest among the main importing companies.

Representaciones Martín was again the second importing company in 6M-2020 with PB / MDP imports for USD 7.7 million compared to USD 9.3 million imported in 6M-2019. Although the decrease was 16.3 percent, it was the smallest drop among the main importing companies in Peru.

Arauco Peru and Masisa Peru followed with imports in 6M-2020of USD 4.0 million and 3.8 million respectively. PB imports by Arauco Peru and Masisa Peru fell 24.6 percent and 32.7 percent.

Ecuador, the main PB/MDP supplier country to the important Peruvian market, had the largest drop in shipments among the main supplier countries, falling from USD 24.1 million in 6M-2019 to USD 13.6 million in 6M-2020, a decrease of 43.6 percent.

Spain, the second largest supplier country (6M-2020: USD 8.3 million), presented the smallest drop among the main supplier countries, falling by 16.8 percent.

In 6M-2020 Chile was the third supplier country with USD 7.8 million (6M-2019: USD 10.4 million) followed by Brazil with USD 4.9 million (6M-2019: USD 7.4 million).