Forest Certification in Developing and Transitioning ... - UTas ePrints

forest certification in mexico
415
With respect to wood imports, during the past five years sawn wood imports have
seen a dramatic increase, moving from US$49 million in 1998 to US$172 million in
2002. There has been an ever-increasing influx of Chilean, Peruvian and Brazilian
timber to the Mexican market. Imports have increased for plywood and medium
density fiberboard (MDF), which are used in the furniture industry but not produced
in Mexico. This timber mainly originates in the United States, Chile, Peru, Canada,
and Brazil. Brazil has been able to increase its presence in the Mexican market by 450
percent over the last ten years. In two years, Chile has increased its presence in the
market by 360 percent, while Peruvian timber has done so at 900 percent. Plywood
also increased by 269 percent; the main countries that sell these types of products to
Mexico are the United States, Chile, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The increase in plywood
imports is basically due to the entry of Malaysia and Chile into the Mexican market
during the past four years, and the increase in imports of 850 percent and 433 percent
from these two countries, respectively.
Figure 1 shows timber import and export trends and their impact on the balance
of payments for forest products.
Figure 1
Trade balance of forest products in Mexico
800
600
400
200
0
-200
-400
-600
1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
IMPORTS EXPORTS BALAN
Source: Pineda 2003
yale school of forestry & environmental studies