Pulp values in Uruguay recovered and maritime costs fell, which made the product more expensive.
After a drop in values during the first months of the year, the price of cellulose in China achieved an increase and the costs of maritime freight had a drop, favoring the competitiveness of the Uruguay, although in an international framework of uncertainty due to the conflict in the Middle East.
He forestry sector It is located as one of the main foreign currency exporters in the Uruguay with the commissioning of UPM2. However, during the first months of the year, the values of cellulose pulp fell to the floor of 450 dollars per ton, to which was added the fact that the rates of Sea freight were high, which made the country’s costs more expensive.
However, the good news came with an increase in pulp prices in the chinese market, hovering around values between 530 and 580 dollars per ton. Added to this is also the decrease in the cost of maritime freight, which had previously caused problems in exports, even postponing closed shipments for marketing.
Meanwhile, the pulp market is in a moment of global uncertainty due to the conflict in Middle Eastwhich does not allow for future forecasts, especially in the European market, one of the main buyers of cellulose of the Uruguay. On the other hand, USA shows improvements in prices and demand, although the country is not positioned as competitive due to its high tariffs.
The forecasts for this year
The export report Uruguay XXI published earlier this month indicates that the forestry sector grew by 17% last year due to increase in pulp sales in the country, reaching a total of 2.48 billion dollars; In turn, this year it is expected to grow again by 33%, marking the third consecutive year of increase.
The cellulose will become the main export product of the country, according to the report of Uruguay XXI, having its support in the three unsaturated plants in the country. In this sense, a production of 3.5 million tons is expected by the end of this year, which would mean an income of 2,907 million dollars, 55% more than in 2022.
Meanwhile, it is expected that the prices of BHKP cellulose (the variety produced in Uruguay) continues with an upward trend of 8%, following a slightly moderate pace compared to recent years. On the other hand, it will be one of the main world exporters for economic powers such as China, Germany and USA.
Source: Ambito
