Brazil

Brazil's plywood exports rebound, but cumulative total still below last year

According to customs data released by Brazil's Ministry of Trade through the Comex Stat system, Brazil's plywood exports reached 183,100 cubic meters in August, up 20% year on year; total export value was US$57.6 million, up 19% year on year; and the average price was US$314 per cubic meter, down 6% month on month.

However, in the first half of this year, Brazil's plywood export volume fell 17% compared with the same period last year. Among them, the United States imported 378,000 cubic meters, down 23% year on year, and its share in Brazil's plywood export trade dropped to 32%. Mexico imported 101,000 cubic meters, up 58%.

It is worth noting that the US tariff on Brazilian plywood has fallen from 50% a year ago to no more than 12.5%, while the United States imposed a 50% tariff on Canadian plywood from August 22, creating relatively favorable competitive conditions for Brazilian products.

US tariffs affect Brazil's 2025 log production

Data from the 2025 Forestry Production and Harvest Survey released by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) on September 24 show that, hit by US tariffs, the output of logs used for non-pulp and paper purposes fell 9.8% that year to 59.2 million cubic meters.

According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture's Agrostat system, total timber exports fell 12.3% last year to 7.2 million tonnes. The decline was mainly due to reduced trade with the United States, with the volume of timber shipped to the United States falling 19.7%.

In contrast, according to the IBGE survey, the output of the log segment dedicated to supplying the pulp and paper industry grew 6.7% last year to 130.33 million cubic meters. The output value of this segment increased 18% to 17.6 billion reais.

Brazil's total forestry activity output value grows 6.7% to 47.9 billion reais

According to data released by IBGE on September 24, Brazil's total forestry output value reached a record 47.9 billion reais in 2025, up 6.7% year on year.

The output value of planted forestry grew 8.6% to 41 billion reais; by contrast, the output value of natural forest resource extraction fell 3.1% to 6.9 billion reais in total.

The total area of planted forests is about 10.4 million hectares, of which 78.6% is planted with eucalyptus mainly used for the pulp industry.

Minas Gerais continued to rank first in planted forestry output value, reaching 9.2 billion reais in 2025, accounting for 22.5% of the total output value.

Mato Grosso and Pará together accounted for 60.7% of the national total log harvest volume, and their output value accounted for 77.0% of the total output value of this product.

Mexico

Mexican furniture manufacturers face challenges

Mexico's domestic furniture industry expects its growth rate to be no more than 1.1%, constrained by cautious and demanding domestic consumption and soaring costs of key production inputs (up to 20%). In addition, producers face enormous operating pressure from unfair competition caused by the influx of Asian imports into the Mexican market.

On costs, the industry faces the challenge of production input costs rising by up to 20%, including medium-density fiberboard (MDF), foam materials, fabrics and hardware.

Facing the severe situation, retail chains and local manufacturers have adjusted their strategies to maintain operations:

Muebles Dico has adopted a prudent expansion plan for its existing 150 stores and plans to add 6 new stores; at the same time, the company uses data analytics and artificial intelligence tools to optimize business processes.

In manufacturing, companies such as MUEBLA are reducing production costs by renegotiating supplier contracts and updating factory equipment, thereby improving their competitiveness against imported products.

Mexico launches national-level pact to protect forests

Mexico launched the "Great National Agreement for Forests and Mangroves." The agreement establishes a coordination framework covering forest protection and restoration, sustainable forestry, mangrove protection and combating illegal logging, and brings together the participation of government, communities, businesses and civil society.

The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) and the National Forestry Commission (CONAFOR) signed the agreement, calling on academia, the private sector and civil society to jointly conclude a pact dedicated to protecting nature. The alliance has gained the support of more than 100 companies, local governments and various organizations, all of which have committed to investing relevant resources. Environment Minister Alicia Bárcena said the move is also a call for communities to jointly combat illegal logging and promote the sustainable use of Mexico's forest resources.

During the meeting, the parties established ten commitments under the agreement: protect and restore forest ecosystems; protect mangroves; promote sustainable agricultural production; strengthen community forestry and local development; support women-led forestry enterprises; build sustainable forest value chains; promote financing for payment for ecosystem services mechanisms; prevent forest fires; curb illegal logging; and simplify relevant administrative procedures for producer communities.

Michoacán uses drones to restore hard-to-reach forest areas

As part of the "Bio Renace: Dispersing Life" program, the Michoacán Forestry Commission (Cofom) used agricultural drones to disperse 660,000 seeds. This strategy, now in its second consecutive year, uses technology to help restore hard-to-reach forest areas and areas affected by forest fires.

The use of drones allows seeds to be delivered to terrain that is difficult to reach with traditional restoration methods, such as high-altitude areas, steep slopes or locations with inconvenient transportation. This technology has expanded the coverage of forestry actions across the state.

As part of the strategy, Cofom introduced a seed pelletization process this year—wrapping seeds in soil and nutrients to form small balls, which the commission calls "germoespheres."

The technology is intended to create favorable conditions for seed germination and establishment. Although its actual effects need to be monitored and evaluated at intervals of 3, 6 and 9 months, the application of this technology indicates that the seeds will have a higher survival rate.

Ecuador

Amazon region committed to transforming biodiversity into bioeconomy industries

To promote the sustainable transformation of biodiversity and agrobiodiversity into products, services and value chains with higher knowledge content, innovation and added value, Ecuador's Conafips is implementing the "BASE Program—Financing for Sustainable Amazon Bioenterprises," an initiative totaling US$21.3 million, with funding sources including the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The program aims to expand financing channels for bioenterprises and sustainable production activities.

The project is not limited to financing crops. Priority sectors include sustainable agriculture, agroforestry, non-timber forest products, agricultural processing, sustainable aquaculture, nature tourism and ecosystem services. This enables activities across links from biological inputs, local plant materials and certification to collection, processing and marketing to obtain financial support. For example, in non-timber forest products, links such as local seeds, oils and fats, fermentation processes and packaging can all obtain financing.

In nature tourism, activities related to green infrastructure, solar energy, ecotourism and transportation, carbon sinks, biodiversity and water resources can also obtain financial support.

Ecuador releases roadmap combining economic development with nature conservation

Ecuador released a new "National Roadmap for an Economy in Harmony with Nature," an initiative proposing to integrate biodiversity and ecosystem services into the country's economic planning.

The document was released in Quito on September 4. It is part of the Nature Transition Support Program (NTSP), supported by the United Kingdom and implemented by the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), with technical assistance from Ecuador's National Institute of Biodiversity (INABIO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Analysis based on data from the Central Bank of Ecuador and the ENCORE platform shows that at least one-third of Ecuador's economic activities have a moderate to high dependence on natural resources. In addition, data cited by UNDP show that priority ecosystem services support more than 80% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP).

The analysis points out that if economic forecasts do not take ecosystem degradation into account, estimates of future growth may be more than 20% too high. By contrast, protecting and restoring natural landscapes could contribute an additional US$20.11 million to GDP each year.