The data comes from a survey of Uruguay XXI. The commissioning of the UPM 2 plant, key to growth.
Thanks to the considerable contribution made by the start-up of the PSU 2, cellulose will become main export product of the country during 2023, according to the estimates made by a survey of Uruguay XXI.
In a context of low exports, which fell in May to a level of 31% YoY, The report specified that pulp production would reach this year the 3.5 million tons, representing an increase in volumes of 33% compared to 2022.
According to calculations, the third consecutive year growth in exports of this product in the country. In fact, according to Uruguay XXI, the prices of BHKP cellulose (the variety produced in Uruguay) will maintain an upward trend, but at a slightly more moderate pace than in recent years, with an estimated rise of 8% in 2023, bringing the total value of pulp exports to an estimated 2.6 billion dollars.
The importance of the start of exports in UPM 2
In this context, an important detail for the growth of this item was that last May it began to export the UPM Paso de los Toros, after three years of construction and several months of fine-tuning.
This is an important investment, which will represent for Uruguay an additional capacity in the production of wood pulp 2.1 million tons, which will be added to 2.7 million tons of the UPM Fray Bentos and Montes del Plata plants.
Counting these numbers, the country will have a production capacity of 4.8 million tons per year, pointed out Uruguay XXI. Thus, everything indicates that it will become one of the world’s leading exporters of pulp, behind China, Germany and the United States.
Source: Ambito
