At the recent Brazilian Technical Pulp and Paper Association (ABTCP) Pulp and Paper International Congress & Exhibition, pulp and paper exhibition and congress in Sao Paulo, Brazil, pulp and paper leaders noted a movement towards biotechnology despite market downturns in the industry.

Due to the international economic crisis, Brazilian pulp and paper exports fell this year.  Despite predictions that the market downturn will continue, the Brazilian pulp and paper industry continues to invest in research and development of new forest-based products and uses; thus, reducing impacts from future crises in the pulp market.

Elizabeth Carvalhaes, President of the  Brazilian Pulp and Paper Association (Bracelpa), major producers are already working on opening the range of forest products. “The investment of US$ 22 billion to $ 24 billion projected by this sector is not dedicated solely to the supply of pulp, but to all uses of wood,” she emphasized.

Lairton Leonardi, ABTCP President, highlighted that the pulp and paper sector is building its vision of the future based on biorefinery studies and their multiple applications.  Leonardi  stated, “today we are facing challenges, but our vision of the future of this sector calls for development and differentiation.”

Source: ABTCP: International Crisis impacts the Pulp and Paper Market, but Brazil Maintains Its Investments in Innovation