Cellulose is now the third most exported product from Paraná

With a 67,9% increase in sales to other countries in the first two months of 2019, cellulose took the unprecedented third place in Paraná's export agenda. According to data from the Ministry of Economy, tabulated by the Paraná Institute for Economic and Social Development (Ipardes), US$ 177,7 million of the product was traded in the first two months of the year, compared to US$ 105,8 million in the same period of 2018 – when it was the fifth most exported by the state.

Pulp exports in the first two months of 2019 are 85 times greater than those recorded in the entire year of 2015 (US$ 2,09 million). 

“At the beginning of this year, pulp exports are only behind soybeans and chicken meat, products that have historically been very representative of Paraná’s foreign sales,” highlights Ipardes Research Director Julio Suzuki. According to him, the fact that it surpassed soybean meal and automobiles in international sales is very significant, as it confirms that it is not a seasonality. “This result proves once again the continuous diversification of Paraná’s exports, which is increasingly less concentrated in a few products,” he analyzes.

According to the director of Ipardes, the growth of the pulp segment in Paraná demonstrates the progress of the process of adding value to the primary production of the forest-based industry. “The state is not exporting roundwood, but rather a high-value-added byproduct. Pulp is used in a multitude of products, such as personal hygiene products,” Suzuki points out.

The National Secretariat of Ports should soon launch a new notice for the lease of an area that will increase the capacity for moving cellulose through the Port of Paranaguá

Port of Paranaguá will expand area for product movement

STRONG EXPANSION

Compared to the first two months of last year, the share of this item in Paraná's foreign trade jumped from 4,7% to 8,2%. In just two months, the state has already exported almost 25% of the total pulp sold to other countries in the whole of 2018: US$ 716,3 million. Four years ago, foreign sales of the product were insignificant. Pulp exports in the first two months of 2019 are 85 times greater than those recorded in the whole of 2015 (US$ 2,09 million). 

Suzuki emphasizes that the strong growth is mainly due to the maturation of the R$8,5 billion investment made by Klabin in the Ortigueira plant, in Campos Gerais. Opened in 2016, it is the plant with the largest private investment in Paraná, generating around R$300 million in taxes per year.

PORT OF PARANAGUÁ WILL EXPAND AREA FOR PRODUCT MOVEMENT

The CEO of the Ports of Paraná, Luiz Fernando Garcia, says that diversification is important to expand business and generate employment along the entire coast. "The Ports of Paraná are well-located, have excellent infrastructure and qualified workers, which ensure efficient movement of all types of cargo," he highlights.

The National Secretariat of Ports is expected to soon launch a new tender for the lease of an area that will increase the capacity for handling pulp through the Port of Paranaguá. From 2016 to 2019, pulp went from the seventh to the fifth most exported item through the port terminal. Paranaguá is the fourth Brazilian port in terms of volume of exports of the product, whose main destination is China.

According to the Paraná Port Administration, since 2016, the Port of Paranaguá has handled 2,604 million tons of pulp in 168 ships. Of this total, 2,457 million tons were shipped in 147 ships by Klabin. Brazil's largest paper producer and exporter has a logistics unit five kilometers away from the port, which receives the product from the Ortigueira plant by rail.

Another company, Fibria Celulose, which has factories in other states, also uses the Port of Paranaguá to ship part of its production.

APPA

Photos: Appa Archive