Exports from the forestry sector US $ 2.7 billion, up 39.1%, adding products such as pulp, wood panels and paper. With this performance, trade balance in the quarter grew 42.3% to reach US $ 2.4 billion, Brazilian Tree Industry (Ibá).
According to information from the entity, there was an increase in sales of pulp exports to China from 40.2% in the quarter, to North America, 47.7%, and to Europe, 71.2%. As a result, pulp exports grew by 51.5% in amounts accumulated between January and March.
During the first quarter of 2018, pulp production increased by 13.0% to 5.3 million tons of pulp. In March alone, growth was 9.4%, reaching 1.8 million tons. In the paper, there was high of 2.1%, between January and March, with 2.6 million tons of paper, with packaging papers accounting for most of this volume, 1.4 million tons. Considering March production alone, the increase was 1.2%, especially paper production for sanitary purposes, which grew by 5.3% and paperboard, with growth of 7.9%.
In the paper segment, the main market is Latin America and exports grew 9.2% in value for this destination. In all, sales to the foreign paper market grew by 4.7% in the quarter. Exports of panels increased by 14.1% in the total value exported in the quarter.