Overall lumber production in Brazil is forecast to increase from 15 to 18 million m3 by 2000. Most of this increase will be in plantation pine and eucalyptus, both, of which have export potential. However, total export volume will remain modest in world terms, as 90 per cent of lumber will be con- sumed domestically. Much of future pine production will be used for pine RTA fumiture, a fast-growing industry in Brazil, and dependent on export markets. Wood-based panel production has increased rapidly.
Plywood utilizes hard- woods, while particleboard and hardboard are based on plantation forest wood.
Exports, mainly of hardwood plywood and hardboard, are 20 to 30 per cent of production. It is expected that the panel industry will grow from current production of 3.2 to 5.5 million M3 by 2000, an increase of 70 per cent, predicated on plantation wood. Increasingly, hardwood-faced plywood will use a pine core, and increased use of eucalyptus for veneer can be expected. Exports have varied between 150,000 and 350,000 M3, about half of lumber export volume, and negligible relative to the resource available. With world demand catching up to supply, there is, clearly, a long-term potential in Brazil to substantially increase its wood production from its huge natural tropical forest, the world's largest.