Brazil

Brazil's Timber Exports Grew by 5% in 2025

According to data from the analysis agency Lesprom Analytics, after three consecutive years of decline, Brazil's timber export volume increased by 5% year-on-year in 2025, reaching 2.96 million cubic meters. Export value grew by 4% to USD 750 million, while the average export price remained stable at USD 254 per cubic meter.

In 2025, the United States, Mexico, and Saudi Arabia together accounted for more than half of Brazil's total timber exports. Exports to the United States fell 12% to 842,000 cubic meters, valued at USD 215 million, with an average price of USD 255 per cubic meter. Exports to Mexico decreased 28% to 516,000 cubic meters, valued at USD 124 million, with an average price of USD 240 per cubic meter. Exports to Saudi Arabia surged 57% to 233,000 cubic meters, valued at USD 53 million, with an average price of USD 228 per cubic meter.

The data also show strong growth in exports to the United Arab Emirates (up 78%), Spain (more than doubled), and China (up 4%).

Softwood dominated Brazil's timber exports in 2025, with 2.7 million cubic meters exported, accounting for 91% of the total. Tropical species accounted for 5%, and hardwood for 4%.

China Remains the Largest Trading Partner of Santos Port in Brazil

In 2025, Santos Port handled a total cargo throughput of 186.4 million tons, up 3.6% year-on-year. In terms of cargo types, solid bulk cargo reached 94.5 million tons, with particularly strong growth in soybeans (up 18.9%) and pulp (up 21.5%), indicating continued robust momentum in Brazil's agricultural and forestry product exports. On the trade side, exports grew 4.6% while imports remained stable. China continued to be the largest trading partner of Santos Port, accounting for 29.6% of total import and export value.

Brazil's National Bank for Economic and Social Development Purchases Bonds to Support Railway Construction Project

The Brazilian National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) will purchase bonds worth 1.05 billion reais to support an 86.7 km railway construction project. The railway will transport pulp products from Eldorado company's facility in Mato Grosso do Sul state to a logistics terminal. The project is expected to reduce the use of approximately 50,000 trucks in pulp transportation, thereby lowering costs and CO₂ emissions. During the construction phase, the project is projected to create more than 3,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Brazil's Furniture and Mattress Exports Grew by 0.8% in 2025

Cumulative data for January–December 2025 show that Brazil's furniture and mattress exports totaled USD 769.3 million, an increase of 0.8% compared to the same period in 2024. Although positive, this growth was well below the previously expected level of around 2.5%.

U.S. tariffs affected performance in the second half of the year. Although the United States remains the main destination for Brazilian furniture exports, its market share dropped significantly in 2025, ending at only 23.5%, compared to nearly or over 30% in previous years.

In response, Brazil is actively exploring new markets, particularly in South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

Brazil Releases Forestry Data Bulletin: 24 Concession Contracts Covering 1.33 Million Hectares

On December 31, the Brazilian Forestry Service (SFB) released three new bulletins from the National Forest Information System (SNIF), covering forest concessions, rural forestry credit, and women's participation in the forestry sector.

Regarding forest concessions, as of December 2025, there are 24 ongoing contracts covering a total concession area of 1,331,009.93 hectares.

From 2011 to 2024, timber production in concession areas reached 2.8 million cubic meters. From 2010 to 2024, public revenue related to concessions totaled 235.2 million reais.

In terms of credit, forestry investment credit accounted for 3.2% of total rural credit in the 2023/24 agricultural year.

Regarding women's participation in the forestry sector, in 2023 the sector recorded 171,112 female jobs, equivalent to 21.4% of total employment — an increase of 28.4% compared to 2018.

Mexico

Mexico Releases Rules for the 2026 Sustainable Forestry Program

On January 16, Mexico's National Forestry Commission (CONAFOR) issued the implementation rules for the 2026 edition of the “Sustainable Forestry Development for Well-being Program,” formally establishing the conditions for accessing federal funding.

The program is structured around six support pillars: community forest management and sustainable value chains; commercial and agroforestry plantations; forest restoration; environmental services; forest protection; and capacity building and local development. Through these components, financial support will be provided to collective-owned communities, indigenous and Afro-Mexican communities, women-led forestry enterprises, and landowners with forest land or priority reforestation areas.

Eligible projects include sustainable forest management, forest and agroforestry plantations, ecosystem restoration, protection of environmental service functions, and prevention of wildfires, pests, and diseases. The program also covers training and research activities and adopts a gender equality perspective, aiming to strengthen the participation of women (especially indigenous and Afro-Mexican women) in decision-making and forestry value chains.

Mexico's 2026 Well-being Housing Program Plans to Build 400,000 Homes

Recently, SEDATU raised the government's housing target under the “Well-being Housing Program,” stating that it will invest 1.1 trillion Mexican pesos (approximately USD 61.43 billion) over six years to build 1.8 million homes nationwide, aiming to reduce the national housing shortage of about 8.3 million units.

According to the latest data from the Secretariat of Agrarian, Territorial and Urban Development (SEDATU), the “Well-being Housing Program” exceeded its 2025 construction start target, with 390,983 homes started nationwide — surpassing the goal of 386,000 homes and achieving a completion rate of 101%. SEDATU expects to build over 400,000 homes in 2026. If the 2026 target is met, the government will have completed approximately 50% of the six-year plan.

Ecuador

Ecuador's Wood Industry Grows Due to External Demand

Christian Riofrío, Executive Director of the Ecuadorian Association of Forestry and Wood Industries (AIMA), expects Ecuador's wood industry export value to reach approximately USD 700 million in 2025, compared to USD 650 million in 2024. This growth confirms a positive trend driven by market diversification, international demand, and gradual recovery of the domestic market.

Riofrío noted that Ecuador's wood industry is characterized by high production diversity — ranging from balsa products to sawn timber, furniture, and paper and paperboard products — with each segment having its own characteristics.

Overall, Ecuador's wood exports maintained an upward trend in 2025. China was the main driver of growth, particularly due to demand for balsa and its derivatives in the wind energy sector.

As of October 2025, balsa products accounted for about 40% of the industry's total exports, while sawn timber accounted for 37% — together representing nearly 80% of export value. Other categories, such as plywood, medium-density fiberboard, and paper and paperboard products, accounted for about 6%.

External factors also influenced the industry's performance in 2025. Since October 2024, the United States has imposed a 15% tariff on imported wood panels, significantly affecting companies heavily reliant on the U.S. market. However, export destination diversification has kept the overall impact moderate and manageable, allowing continued export growth, according to AIMA representatives.

Ecuador Wood Association Calls for Resolution of Trade Restrictions

In response to Ecuador and Colombia announcing 30% tariffs on each other's imported goods, several industry associations issued statements and called for dialogue between the two countries to reach an agreement and avoid impacting bilateral trade.

The Ecuadorian Association of Forestry and Wood Industries (AIMA) expressed concern over the escalating trade tensions between the two nations.

According to data from the Ecuadorian Federation of Exporters (Fedexpor), from January to November 2025, wood panels were the third-largest export product from Ecuador to Colombia, with export value reaching USD 75 million during the period — a 25% decline compared to the same period in 2024.

Ecuador's Forest Fires Decreased by 63% in 2025

According to the Ecuadorian National Secretariat for Risk Management (SNGR), 5,834 forest fires were reported in 2024, affecting 83,323 hectares of vegetation cover. In 2025, 2,145 fires occurred across 22 provinces, affecting 16,772 hectares.

Compared to 2024, these figures represent a 63.2% reduction in the number of fires and a 79.9% reduction in affected area, indicating a decreased impact on the country's ecosystems and biodiversity.