Lower-cost Chinese-built batch panel lines are continuing to invade the Latin American panel industry.
A fourth Brazilian plywood producer is reported to be planning the switch to MDF production, this time in the hardwood plywood heartland of northern Brazil.
Florapac MDF Ltda, based in Paragominas, Pará, is said to be preparing a site for a new 140,000m3/year fibreboard line from Shanghai Wood Based Panel Machinery Co Ltd (SWPM). The line is due for completion in 2009.
Already, SWPM has sold similar MDF lines to three plywood firms in southern and south western Brazil, two of which should be operating later this year/early next.
Companies with 180,000m3/year SWPM lines being built in Santa Catarina state are at Guararapes Paneis Ltda in Caçador and Indústria Sudati de Compensados Ltda in Otacilio Costa.
The third project, by Maseal Industria de Compensados Ltda of Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul state, is said to be under review.
