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Biobío: Forestry Exports Continue to Lead, but with a Slight Decline in April
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The forestry sector exports from the Biobío Region reached $104.5 million in April 2025, solidifying its position as one of the region's top three economic activities, alongside pulp and food manufacturing, according to the INE. However, the sector showed a slight 5% decline compared to the same month the previous year, when exports totaled $109.9 million.
Despite this drop, the forestry sector's share of the region's total exports remained high, accounting for 26% of the regional total, highlighting its strategic importance for Biobío's economy.
Among the most exported forestry products were sawn wood ($42.8 million), plywood ($20.6 million), fiberboard ($17.2 million), wood profiles and moldings ($14.4 million), and wooden doors ($6.9 million). Together, these items totaled over $101 million, representing nearly 97% of the sector's exports.
While some products, such as profiles and moldings (+16.4%) or fiberboard (+10.1%), managed to increase their shipments abroad, others like sawn wood (-13.1%) and plywood (-10.7%) experienced year-on-year declines, explaining the sector's overall negative performance in April.
In terms of destinations, China remains a relevant partner for Biobío's forestry products, although the Asian giant reduced its purchases by 20.4% compared to April 2024. In contrast, the United States increased its regional imports by 21.2%, accounting for 25.5% of total exports.
Overall, regional exports totaled $401.9 million in April, with a marginal 1% increase compared to the previous year. Despite the forestry sector's decline, it retains its prominence and remains key to Biobío's economic and commercial development.
