Plant production and extraction

Data from production and plant extraction in Brazil are fundamental to understand the dynamics of timber and non-timber forest resources from agriculture, forestry and extractivism in natural areas. Plant production includes food and raw materials grown in the country, such as wood from planted forests (forestry), as well as products from native species of Brazil that have been domesticated for large-scale cultivation, such as acai, yerba mate, rubber and cashew nuts. On the other hand, plant extraction refers to obtaining renewable natural resources through extractivism, such as wood, rubber, nuts and wild fruits collected in natural and spontaneous forest formations. Information and data on these topics are released annually by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), making it possible to analyze the quantity, diversity and geographical distribution of exploited plant resources.

The IBGE’S Survey of Forestry Activities (PEVS) offers information and statistics on the quantity and value of the main timber and non-timber products obtained through the process of exploitation of natural forest resources (plant extraction) or the exploitation of planted forest massifs (forestry/cultivation).

The Municipal Agricultural Activity Survey (PAM), also from IBGE, collects information on forest production of planted origin, classified as permanent crops and crops. Thus, the research provides data on the planted area, area destined for harvest, harvested area, quantity produced, average yield and value of the production of timber and non-timber forest products. These data allow a detailed analysis of the diversity of resources exploited, the extraction methods used and the regions where the collection takes place.

In addition, the IBGE Annual Industrial Survey (PIA) provides detailed information on the performance of the Brazilian industry, including the sectors linked to the processing of forest products. The timber forest products analyzed by the PIA mainly refer to the processing of wood from native and planted forests, and include a wide variety of products resulting from the industrial splitting and processing of wood. Thus, the PIA collects a wide range of economic and financial information, including quantity produced and production value, providing essential information to understand the dynamics of the Brazilian timber industry.

Timber Forest Products (PFM)

Brazilian timber production comes mainly from forest plantation areas. In 2023, 95% of charcoal, 94% of log wood and 74% of firewood originated in planted areas. There has been an increasing trend in timber production in recent years, except for charcoal, which showed a reduction in extraction in 2023, with a drop of 444 thousand tons compared to the previous year.

Wood products are mainly used industrially (58%), while 42% are used as fuel. Most of these forest resources come from plantations.

Source: Survey of Forestry Activities (PEVS/IBGE, 2024a).

¹Industrial wood is wood used for the production of pulp, lumber, laminates, boards, and other uses. The wood for fuel use comes from the sum of firewood and charcoal transformed into firewood (1m³ firewood = (1t charcoal x 1000/250) x2). 1

Source: Survey of Forestry Activities (PEVS/IBGE, 2024a).

¹Industrial wood is wood used for the production of pulp, lumber, laminates, boards, and other uses. The wood for fuel use comes from the sum of firewood and charcoal transformed into firewood (1m³ firewood = (1t charcoal x 1000/250) x2). 1

In 2023, R$ 35.1 billion worth of wood products were sold in Brazil. The value per cubic meter of wood logs extracted from natural forests is higher than that of wood from forestry. In contrast, the price of firewood from natural areas is less than the value of firewood obtained from planted forests. The price per ton of coal from planted forests in 2023 was higher than the value observed in natural forests.

Source: Survey of Forestry Activities (PEVS/IBGE, 2024a).

¹Amounts adjusted for 2023 according to IPCA.

Source: Survey of Forestry Activities (PEVS/IBGE, 2024a).

¹Amounts adjusted for 2023 according to IPCA.

Source: Survey of Forestry Activities (PEVS/IBGE, 2024a).

¹Amounts adjusted for 2023 according to IPCA.

Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP)

Products extracted from natural forests

The main products extracted from natural forests in 2023 were yerba mate, acai, pequi, Brazil nuts and babassu almonds, which together accounted for approximately 80% of the total revenue obtained from non-timber products from native forests.

In 2023, food extractivist products represented 84% of the total marketed value of non-timber products. These products play a crucial role in the economy of many rural communities and in biodiversity conservation, especially in regions where extractivism is a sustainable practice.

Source: Survey of Forestry Activities (PEVS/IBGE, 2024a).

¹Amounts adjusted for 2023 according to IPCA.

The main food products extracted in 2023 were: yerba mate (426,000 t), acai (239,000 t), pequi (51,000 t) and Brazil nuts (35,000 t). Babassu almond was the main oilseed product extracted, totaling about 27,000 tons. These products have cultural, social and economic importance, with great potential for the food and pharmaceutical industry.

Source: Survey of Forestry Activities (PEVS/IBGE, 2024a).

The following figures indicate the states where the extractions of the main non-timber extractive products are concentrated. Yerba mate is extracted naturally in the southern region of Brazil, while acai and natural rubber are predominant in the northern region. Cashew nuts, in turn, are mainly extracted in the northeastern region of the country.

Source: Survey of Forestry Activities (PEVS/IBGE, 2024a).

Source: Survey of Forestry Activities (PEVS/IBGE, 2024a).

Source: Survey of Forestry Activities (PEVS/IBGE, 2024a).

Source: Survey of Forestry Activities (PEVS/IBGE, 2024a).

Products harvested from crops

Among the main Non-Timber Forest Products from permanent crops, acai, coagulated rubber, cocoa beans and cashews stand out. No areas cultivated for pequi or Brazil nuts were identified in the PAM/IBGE survey. The harvested areas in hectares for the main non-timber products recorded by PAM in 2023 are shown in the following figures.

Source: Municipal Agricultural Activity Survey (PAM/IBGE, 2024b).

Source: Municipal Agricultural Activity Survey (PAM/IBGE, 2024b).

Source: Municipal Agricultural Activity Survey (PAM/IBGE, 2024b).

Source: Municipal Agricultural Activity Survey (PAM/IBGE, 2024b).

Comparison between production by extraction and harvest

Source: Survey of Forestry Activities (PEVS/IBGE, 2024a) and Municipal Agricultural Activity Survey (PAM/IBGE, 2024b).

For the acai product, production from permanent crops (1.7 million t) was much higher than extraction in areas of native vegetation (238 thousand t) in 2023. Acre, Amapá and Maranhão are the states that still maintain much of their acai production through extractive practices.

Source: Survey of Forestry Activities (PEVS/IBGE, 2024a) and Municipal Agricultural Activity Survey (PAM/IBGE, 2024b).

Most of the rubber production (coagulated latex) comes from permanent crops (463,000 t), highlighting São Paulo, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Goiás and Bahia, which together produce 91% of the national production. A small portion, about 0.3%, mainly originates from natural vegetation in Acre, Amazonas, and Rondônia.

Source: Survey of Forestry Activities (PEVS/IBGE, 2024a) and Municipal Agricultural Activity Survey (PAM/IBGE, 2024b).

As for cashew nut production, 99% of the product comes from permanent crops (128,000 t), highlighting Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte and Piauí as the largest producers in 2023.

Source: Survey of Forestry Activities (PEVS/IBGE, 2024a) and Municipal Agricultural Activity Survey (PAM/IBGE, 2024b).

Yerba mate is a product of great relevance in southern Brazil, a region that accounted for 99% of national production in 2023. Paraná is the largest producer of the herb with 737 thousand tons in 2023, 50% of which are of extractive origin.

Source: Survey of Forestry Activities (PEVS/IBGE, 2024a) and Municipal Agricultural Activity Survey (PAM/IBGE, 2024b).

The following figures present a comparison over time between the data of products from extractivism and products from crops. This comparison reinforces the need for a balance between sustainable extractivism and permanent cultivation, since both systems have the potential to contribute to the rural economy and the conservation of ecosystems.

Source: Survey of Forestry Activities (PEVS/IBGE, 2024a) and Municipal Agricultural Activity Survey (PAM/IBGE, 2024b).

¹Amounts adjusted for 2023 according to IPCA.

Source: Survey of Forestry Activities (PEVS/IBGE, 2024a) and Municipal Agricultural Activity Survey (PAM/IBGE, 2024b).

¹Amounts adjusted for 2023 according to IPCA.

Source: Survey of Forestry Activities (PEVS/IBGE, 2024a) and Municipal Agricultural Activity Survey (PAM/IBGE, 2024b).

¹Amounts adjusted for 2023 according to IPCA.

Source: Survey of Forestry Activities (PEVS/IBGE, 2024a) and Municipal Agricultural Activity Survey (PAM/IBGE, 2024b).

¹Amounts adjusted for 2023 according to IPCA.

Source: Survey of Forestry Activities (PEVS/IBGE, 2024a) and Municipal Agricultural Activity Survey (PAM/IBGE, 2024b).

¹Amounts adjusted for 2023 according to IPCA.

Source: Survey of Forestry Activities (PEVS/IBGE, 2024a) and Municipal Agricultural Activity Survey (PAM/IBGE, 2024b).

¹Amounts adjusted for 2023 according to IPCA.

Products from planted forests

As for non-timber forest products from planted forests (forestry), IBGE publications identified black acacia bark, eucalyptus leaves, and resin. The production of these forest resources from planted areas highlights the importance of forestry in meeting the demand for plant resources.

Source: Survey of Forestry Activities (PEVS/IBGE, 2024a).

¹Amounts adjusted for 2023 according to IPCA.

Processed products

The main Processed Timber Forest Products analyzed by the Annual Industrial Survey (PIA) are:

• Paper and Pulp: pulp fibers, extracted from trees, are used for the manufacture of paper, which is a highly relevant sector within the forest products industry;
• Lumber: this product is derived from the splitting of logs, being one of the main categories of timber products. It has wide application in civil construction, from the construction of complex structures to finishes and decorative details;
• Plywood and Wood Laminates: these panels are made of glued and pressed sheets, giving the material high strength and stability. They are products of higher added value, resulting from the industrial processing of wood and the production of these items is a reflection of the sophistication of the sector and the demand for construction materials and furniture of higher quality and strength;
• Wooden furniture: The furniture industry is another essential branch within the timber sector, and PIA examines the production of different types of furniture, from simpler pieces to higher value-added items.

The primary production of Pulp and Paper grew by 6.3% between 2019 and 2022 compared to the four-year period from 2015 to 2018, with the amount of pulp produced remaining above 18 million tons during the last three years of the series. Although with a smaller share in the total, the production of recycled paper tripled in the last four years of the series compared to the first four years.

Secondary paper products showed an 8.7% increase in the amount produced (in t) when comparing the 2015-2018 and 2019-2022 four-year periods. Secondary paper products are mainly composed of types of packaging, which represent 68.6% of the total value of this sector. Among these, cardboard boxes stand out, accounting for 35.2% of production value, followed by printed paper, cardboard or card packaging (11.6% in total), boxes or other foldable cardboard or card packaging (11.0%) and paper bags and sacks (7.5%). Toilet paper, which is also part of the group of secondary paper products, corresponds to 15.1% of the total production value of this group.

Source: Annual Industrial Survey (Pia/IBGE, 2024c).

Primary wood products (Lumber, Plywood, Laminates and Panels) showed growth in production between 2019 and 2022 compared to the previous four-year period, with fiber panels registering the most modest increase. The highlight was laminates, which grew 122.6% in the last four years, with the highest increase in 2021, when production tripled compared to the previous year. The production of plywood, a product derived from laminates, also showed a steady increase over the eight years of the series, with its peak growth recorded in 2021.

Secondary wood products (woodworking, refined products, carpentry, except furniture) showed a modest growth of 5.3% in the quantity produced (in thousand m²) in the comparison between the four-year periods 2015-2018 and 2019-2022. However, when the quantity produced of these products was measured in millions of units, there was an increase of 40.4%.

The production value of these products is concentrated mainly in doors and windows (24.0%) and in profiled wood or frame profiles (22.4%), representing almost half of the total value.

Source: Annual Industrial Survey (Pia/IBGE, 2024c).

In the production of wooden furniture (another type of secondary wood product), residential furniture stands out, particularly non-embedded or kitchen cabinets, which correspond to 17.4% of the total production value of wooden furniture, in addition to wooden furniture for residential use, except tables, embedded or for kitchens, which represent 10.3%, and built-in kitchen furniture, with 9.7% of revenue.

For wood furniture units, there was a significant increase in production (+141.9%), with growth driven mainly by wooden components, parts and pieces for furniture (doors, sides, shelves and the like), which have lower added value compared to other classes of activities (growth of 179.4%). There was also a considerable increase in the production of wooden seats and chairs, of 57.6%.