The panel market began a slow recovery after a generally flat 2011 thanks mainly to a string of government measures to stimulate the national economy. Given continued government support and an economic upturn in 2013, the sector should see quite strong growth in the coming year, according to Alexandre Coelho, president of Brazil’s panel industry association ABIPA.
Early in 2012, panel makers were faced with high interest rates and a credit squeeze but the industry reacted well when the situation eased and government introduced tax concessions, he said in a December interview with the online industry portal RG Movel.