BRAZIL (News release) -- The Brazilian Tree Industry is reporting that Brazilian pulp production grew 5.1% in the first quarter 2017 compared to the same period last year, totaling 6.32 million tons against 6.02 million in 2016.

Positive results continue for paper, with exports reaching 702,000 tons sold during the period; this represents growth of 1.9% compared to the same period of 2016, when 689,000 tons were traded.

In the first four months of 2017, the volume of pulp exports reached 4.34 million tons. This is an increase of 1.6% over the same period in 2016, when 4.28 million tons were exported. The paper sector recorded exports of 702,000 tons (+1.9%) and wood panels reached 376,000 cubic meters (+39.8%).

From January to April 2017 the sector recorded exports of $2.6 billion, 1.7% lower than this figure for the same period in 2016; pulp reached $1.87 billion (-2.2%), paper registered $601 million (-3.2%), and wood panels $86 million (+24.6%). As a result, the balance of trade in the sector registered a positive balance of $2.24 billion during the first four months of the year (-0.5% compared to 2016).

More than 44% of the pulp Brazil exported went to China, representing income of $829 million and a 26.6% increase over the first four months of 2017 and 2016. Latin American countries were the main markets for paper in this period, with exports to this region totaling $382 million (+10.4%).

Brazilian pulp production surpassed 6.3 million tons, growing 5.1% between January and April of 2017 in comparison with 2016, and paper registered 3.4 million tons (-1.7%).

During the first four months of 2017, paper sales on the domestic market reached 1.69 million tons, a drop of 2.9% compared with the same period last year.