South American industry has mixed year

South American countries have experienced a mixed 2008, with wood exports rising and falling, according to the latest Tropical Timber Market Report from the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO).

Brazil, Peru and Bolivia have all experienced a downturn in exports at some point during the year-to-date, with Brazil seeing a decline of 7.3% in July to US$307.2m, Peru seeing a fall in value of US$6.71m year on year in June and Bolivian exports dropping to US$52.59m during the period January to April, a decline of 12%.

However, Peruvian wood exports for the first half of the year rose by 15% to US$119.1m, continuing a period of steady growth since 2003.

Semi-manufactured and sawnwood products were key amongst Peru’s gain in the first six months, up 27% to US$34.2m and 4% to US$55.86m year on year respectively.

In Jun, Peru’s sawnwood market declined by US$7.66m but this was offset by a US$400,000 increase in the value of the semi-manufactured market as exports of decking products to China improved.