COLOMBIA - After a 23.1 percent drop in the first half of 2020, Colombian particleboard imports (PB / MDP) continued to rebound strongly in 4Q-2020.

Between October and December 2020 (4Q-2020) PB / MDP imports amounted to USD 31.8 million compared to USD 26.0 million in 4Q-2019. Growth in the quarter was 22.1%.

Madecentro, given its extensive presence in the country, through more than 150 points of sale, was once again the main importer of PB / MDP with more than 64 percent of the total value imported by the Colombian market in the quarter. The chain specialized in supplies for the furniture and carpentry industry, completed USD 20.5 million in purchases abroad of PB / MDP for 4Q-2020, (4Q-2019: USD 17.9 million), a year-on-year increase of 14.4 percent.

The second place in the list of importing companies went to the furniture manufacturer Maderkit, with imports of particleboard/MDP in 4Q-2020 for USD 2.9 million, an increase of 42.6 percent compared to 4Q-2019 (USD 2.1 million).

As a supplier company, Novopan del Ecuador was once again the leading supplier of particleboard / MDP to Colombia, with shipments of USD 23.9 million in 4Q-2020 (4Q-2019: USD 20.5 million), growth of 16.4 percent compared to the same period of the previous year.

This performance sustains Ecuador as the main PB/MDP supplier country to the Colombian market in 4Q-2020 with more than 75 percent share of Colombian PB/MDP imports, followed by Brazil (Duratex and Berneck); Chile (Arauco and Masisa); and Spain (Tableros Hispanos).

The very good performance of Colombian imports of PB / MDP in the second semester of the year allowed the consolidated imports of 2020 to almost offset the sharp drop in the first semester.

Colombian imports of PB / MDP exceeded USD 100 million for the third consecutive year in 2020, reaching USD 100.6 million. A slight drop of 0.6 percent compared to 2019 (USD 101.2 million).