Brazilian pulp exports up, WRQ shows

The Brazilian pulp industry is starting to recover from weak global demand for paper products, according to the Wood Resource Quarterly (WRQ) report.

In April, pulp exports equaled 766,000 tonnes - up 43% from the previous month and 140% higher than shipments a year earlier.

Wood fibre costs remained unchanged in the local currency in the second quarter of the year, but increased by 8% in US dollars compared with the previous quarter.

According to the study, the Brazilian pulp industry has had a "record 2008", despite the economic downturn with production last year reaching 12.8m tonnes, up from 11.8m tonnes in 2007.

The WRQ report provides global wood prices and market information on all the major regions of the world.