| Notwithstanding the difficulties created by congestion at
Brazil's ports, the value of its timber and wood products exports for the first quarter of
2004 was up 36.7% to $770 million compared with the same period a year earlier. For the
January to March period 2003, wood exports amounted to $563 million. According
to the Brazilian Assn. for Mechanically Processed Timber (ABIMCI), wood exports for the
first quarter represented about 3.7% of all Brazil's exports.
Brazilian plywood certified by the National Program on Timber Quality (PNQM), to CE
level 4 for non-structural use continues to be exported to the European Union, where the
U.K., Germany and Belgium consume more than 47% of all Brazil pine plywood sold abroad,
ABIMCI said in a May 5 press release.
Brazilian plywood producers are said by ABIMCI president Odelir Battistella to be
aggressively pursuing export markets because of the poor domestic economy.
"Sales are practically zero within the country," said Battistella. "This
makes people look for foreign markets to do business, even though the industry is
perfectly ready to attend both the two markets."
But as long as domestic demand shows no sign of improving, Battistella said the
industry would remain focused on offshore markets. Some 19 Brazilian companies are said
now to have accreditation for CE-marking of non-structural panel products required for the
European market.
"The increase in exports seen last year compared to 2002 and the acknowledgement
of our products' quality by importers are of paramount significance in keeping the more
than 6.5 million jobs the forestry based industry has in the country," said
Battistella.
In 2003, Brazil's solid wood industry exported more than $2.6 billion compared with
$2.2 billion in 2002. |
