In March 2008, the value of exports of general wood products (except pulp and paper) fell 5% compared to the same period in 2007, from USD339.6 million to USD322.7 million. The charts below show the volume and value of exports over the March 2007—March 2008 period:
| Brazil’s Exports by Value in March 2008 (USD mil) |
| |
2007 |
2008 |
% change |
| Solid wood* |
339.6 |
322.7 |
-5 |
| Pine plywood |
36.6 |
46.7 |
27.5 |
| Tropical sawnwood |
46.9 |
46.2 |
-18.2 |
| Pine sawnwood |
24.3 |
18.6 |
-23.5 |
| Wood furniture |
67.5 |
61.4 |
-9 |
| *Figures for solid wood exclude pulp and paper exports |
| |
| Brazil’s Exports by Volume in March 2008 (000 m³) |
| |
2007 |
2008 |
% change |
| Tropical plywood |
36.79 |
24.72 |
-32.8 |
| Pine plywood |
135.65 |
129.62 |
-4.4 |
| Tropical sawnwood |
116.71 |
95.5 |
-18.2 |
| Pine sawnwood |
127.48 |
90.69 |
-28.9 |
Alta Floresta and Sinop clusters sustain timber exports in 2008
According to Só Notícias, Alta Floresta and Sinop continued to deliver competitive levels of exports in 2008 and remain the major wood clusters in Northern Mato Grosso. Alta Floresta is not among the main exporting
regions of the state but has an important role in the timber
trade. Timber dominated exports from Alta Floresta in the
first quarter of 2008, reaching USD4.1 million in value,
according to the Secretary of Foreign Trade. In 2007, the
total trade of the municipality reached USD4.2 million in
the first quarter.
The most popular solid wood products from Alta Floresta in the international market were wood mouldings,
sawnwood and manufactured products such as doors,
frames and doorsteps. The value exported in January was
USD1.6 million, 31% higher than the same period last
year. The US was the main destination of wood product
exports from Alta Floresta, accounting for 46% of exports
by value, equivalent to USD1.9 million, followed by Spain
with 24% and Israel 14%.
On the other hand, exports from Sinop were USD4.9
million in March 2008, down 27% compared to the same
period in 2007 when exports reached USD6.7 million.
Overall, Sinop’s first quarter exports in 2008 dropped 20%
from USD 14.6 million in 2007 to USD11.8 million in
2008.
Despite the negative scenario in Sinop, the wood products
trade continues to be important to the economy of the
region. In the first quarter of 2008, sawn timber was nearly
50% of the value of exports, equivalent to BRL 6 million.
Veneer exports were 233% higher than the same period in
2007; plywood and wood mouldings also were among the
major traded wood products. The main importing
countries of Sinop’s products were Belgium followed by
Spain, Italy and Thailand.
Strong gains in regional exports by Brazil
Brazil exported USD45.2 million of furniture to the U.S. in the first quarter of 2008, down 27% in value compared to the same period in 2007. Nevertheless, the U.S. furniture, taking 21% of total exports. On the other hand, Brazilian exports of furniture to Argentina continued on a growing trend, with exports worth USD21.3 million in the
period, a 38% increase. The Netherlands imported the
equivalent of USD8 million, representing a 34% rise.
Rio Grande do Sul exported USD63.7 million of furniture in the first quarter of 2008. Despite the small increase of 2%, it was below the average of total Brazilian furniture exports. Rio Grande do Sul furniture sector exports to the US were USD3.9 million, a 47% slump. The United Kingdom, the main importer of the state’s furniture
exports (17% of total state exports), purchased USD8.9
million from January to March 2008, 16% less than the
same period last year. Furniture exports to Venezuela have
increased drastically by 493% during the period and
amounted to USD3.9 million.
The Southern state of Santa Catarina’s share of total Brazilian furniture sales was 34%, followed by Rio Grande do Sul with 29% and São Paulo with 15%. However, Santa Catarina´s share has been gradually falling. |