In October 2019, the Brazilian exports of wood-based products (except pulp and paper) declined almost 27% in value compared to October 2018, from US$272.5 million to US$199.1 million.
The value of pine sawnwood exports dropped by a third between October 2018 (US$50.4 million) and October 2019 (US$33.5 million). In terms of volume, exports dropped 28% over the same period, from 244,100 cu.m to 175,500 cu.m.
Following this trend, the volume of tropical sawnwood exports also fell over 30% from 52,400 cu.m in October 2018 to 36,400 cu.m in October 2019. The value of October exports also fell 30% from US$20.6 million to US$14.4 million over the same period.
The downturn in October plywood exports was even more severe, dropping almost 40% in value in comparison with October 2018, from US$55.7 million to US$33.7 million.
The volume of exports dropped but only by around 12% indicating a strong downward pressure on prices. Tropical plywood exports also declined in October, in volume terms exports fell 42% and in value the decline was even sharper (-50%), from 12,800 cu.m (US$5.4 million) in October 2018 to 7,400 cu.m (US$2.7 million) in October 2019.
The bad news continued as wooden furniture export earnings declined from US$48.3 million in October 2018 to US$46.6 million in October this year.