Sawmill Byproduct Production Improves Efficiency Despite Total Volume Stagnation

The performance of the sawmill byproducts industry shows a clear signal: productive efficiency is increasing, even in a context where the total volume fails to consolidate sustained growth, according to data from Infor.

According to the most recent data, the average volume per productive unit has maintained an upward trend over the last decade, reaching its highest level of the analyzed period in 2024. This upturn marks a relevant point, as it places the indicator near its historical highs and confirms an improvement in productivity per unit.

However, this progress contrasts with the evolution of the total volume of byproducts, which has shown fluctuations and a rather stable behavior, with no significant increases in recent years. In fact, after the peak observed in 2018, significant declines were recorded in 2019, 2022, and 2023, with a partial recovery in 2024.

The year-on-year variation reflects this volatility: after strong growth of 12.2% in 2018, the sector experienced relevant contractions, notably the 11.8% drop in 2022. Nevertheless, the last year shows a recovery of 6.1%, which could indicate a trend change.

When analyzing the segment of large sawmills —those with production exceeding 100,000 m³—, it is observed that the number of units has slightly decreased since 2019, going from 18 to 16 in 2024. This reduction was particularly sustained until 2022, with slight fluctuations thereafter.

In this segment, the behavior of the average volume has followed a trajectory similar to that of the total volume, with a drop in recent years. However, between 2023 and 2024, a recovery in the average indicator is evident, even though the total volume still remains below historical levels.

This phenomenon suggests a structural change in the industry: production tends to concentrate in fewer units, but with higher levels of efficiency or better use of installed capacity. In other words, the sector would be moving towards greater productivity, compensating for the lower number of players with better operational performance.

Overall, the data points to an industry that, although facing challenges in terms of volume, shows positive signs in efficiency and productive adaptation.