Brazil's wood exporters entered the second half of 2026 facing an increasingly complex international market. The introduction of new US tariffs in late July did not ultimately affect many of the country's main wood products, but uncertainty surrounding the measures had already altered buying behaviour months earlier. Importers slowed purchases, delayed contracts and reduced inventories while waiting to understand which products would remain competitive in the American market.<\/p>\n
Exports across the country's ten largest wood product categories reached US$855.2 million during the first six months of 2026, an 8% decline from US$929.5 million a year earlier.<\/p>\n
The United States remained Brazil's largest individual market, accounting for 24.7% of total export value. At the same time, it recorded one of the sharpest adjustments in purchasing activity, with Brazilian wood exports to US customers falling by around one-third during the first half of the year.<\/p>\n
For Brazilian producers, the decline illustrates how uncertainty can disrupt trade even before new tariffs take effect.<\/p>\n
Uncertainty proved more disruptive than the tariffs themselves<\/strong><\/p>\n When Washington announced additional import duties, exporters faced weeks of uncertainty over which products would ultimately be affected. For companies supplying the US construction sector, that uncertainty quickly translated into slower order intake rather than an immediate loss of competitiveness.<\/p>\n Many importers preferred to postpone purchases until the final scope of the measures became clear. Production schedules became shorter, contract negotiations took longer and inventory management turned increasingly cautious.<\/p>\n The final outcome proved less severe than initially feared. Several of Brazil's largest export products\u2014including tropical hardwood lumber, plywood, veneers and most wood pulp grades\u2014were excluded from the new tariff measures or continued to fall under existing trade arrangements.<\/p>\n However, by the time those exemptions became clear, purchasing decisions had already changed.<\/p>\n According to Gustavo Milazzo, founder and CEO of WoodFlow, a Brazilian wood trade intelligence platform, exporters found themselves constantly adjusting commercial strategies as new announcements followed one another.<\/p>\n \"We barely understand one tariff before the next appears.\"<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n For manufacturers, the challenge extends well beyond customs duties. Many Brazilian mills have spent decades producing lumber and plywood specifically for American construction standards, grading rules, certification systems and customer specifications. Redirecting those products to another destination is rarely immediate and often requires new certifications, different dimensions and entirely new commercial relationships.<\/p>\n Pine products remain heavily exposed to the US market<\/strong><\/p>\n The dependence on the United States is particularly visible in Brazil's plantation pine industry.<\/p>\n During the first half of 2026, pine plywood generated US$151 million in export revenue, making it Brazil's largest wood product sold to the US market. Pine lumber followed with US$143.3 million, confirming that structural pine products remain the backbone of Brazilian wood exports to North America.<\/p>\n These products have been developed around American building practices over many years. Even where alternative markets exist, volumes are generally smaller and product specifications often differ substantially.<\/p>\n Some exporters have already started diversifying shipments. WoodFlow data show growing timber movements towards Mexico through the Port of Paranagu\u00e1 during the first quarter, suggesting companies are gradually reducing their dependence on a single destination. Such adjustments, however, require time and cannot immediately compensate for weaker US demand.<\/p>\n Brazil's southern ports continue to dominate timber exports<\/strong><\/p>\n Export logistics remain highly concentrated in southern Brazil, reflecting the country's plantation forestry base.<\/p>\n Between January and April 2026, Paranagu\u00e1 handled 38,696 TEUs, representing more than 31% of Brazil's containerised wood exports among the principal exporting ports. Navegantes and Itapo\u00e1 followed with 24,096 TEUs and 23,286 TEUs, respectively.<\/p>\n The figures underline how closely Brazil's export infrastructure is tied to the southern plantation belt. Paran\u00e1 and Santa Catarina remain the country's principal wood-processing regions, supplying international markets through a relatively small number of specialised container ports.<\/p>\n According to the Brazilian Association of Mechanically Processed Timber (ABIMCI), the wood products industry employed approximately 173,300 people in 2024. When furniture manufacturing is included, employment rises to around 376,000, highlighting the broader economic importance of export-oriented timber production in southern Brazil.<\/p>\n China is unlikely to absorb surplus volumes<\/strong><\/p>\n Finding alternative buyers may prove difficult.<\/p>\n China remains one of the world's largest timber importers, but demand from its construction sector continues to weaken. The country's construction purchasing managers' index fell to 47.0 in July, its lowest level since the pandemic disruptions of 2020, signalling continued contraction in building activity.<\/p>\n That leaves Brazilian exporters navigating weaker conditions in their two largest external markets simultaneously.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Brazil’s wood exporters entered the second half of 2026 facing an increasingly complex international market. The introduction of new US tariffs in late July did not ultimately affect many of the country’s main wood products, but uncertainty surrounding the measures … Continue reading \n
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\n \nPort<\/th>\n Jan\u2013Apr 2026 (TEUs)<\/th>\n Share<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n \n Paranagu\u00e1<\/td>\n 38,696<\/td>\n 31.3%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Navegantes<\/td>\n 24,096<\/td>\n 19.5%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Itapo\u00e1<\/td>\n 23,286<\/td>\n 18.9%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Santos<\/td>\n 12,118<\/td>\n 9.8%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Itaja\u00ed<\/td>\n 9,896<\/td>\n 8.0%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Rio Grande<\/td>\n 8,549<\/td>\n 6.9%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Total<\/strong><\/td>\n 123,703<\/strong><\/td>\n 100%<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n