Chilean imports of forest products reached a total of US$1.747 billion CIF during 2025, recording growth of 8.8% compared to 2024, according to information from the Forest Institute (Infor).
The main component of these purchases corresponded to papers, cardboards, and their manufactures, which concentrated approximately 66.8% of the imported value, reaching US$1.1665 billion, an increase of 12.8% compared to the previous year. In volume, this group went from 848,367 to 955,884 tons, with an increase of 12.7%.
In second place were furniture and their parts, with imports of US$228.4 million, practically stable compared to 2024, recording a variation of just 1%. This segment represented about 13.1% of the total value.
Panels lead growth
One of the most notable behaviors of the year corresponded to wood panels and veneers, whose imports increased 36.4% in value, to US$102.6 million, while volume experienced a jump of 53.6%, going from 124,187 to 191,428 tons.
The group represented around 5.7% of the total value of forest imports.
Manufactured articles also showed increases, with growth of 13.5% in value and 15.6% in volume, reaching US$47.7 million.
In contrast, construction elements decreased 15.2% in value and 3.6% in volume, while natural rubber and its manufactures fell 17.1% in value and 19.1% in volume. Cooperage products also recorded a decline, of 10.3% in value and 18% in volume.
China and Brazil concentrate almost half
The origin of imports maintained a high concentration. China and Brazil together accounted for 46% of the total value, with shares of 29.8% and 16.2%, respectively.
Both markets consolidated themselves as the main suppliers of forest products to Chile, particularly in categories such as papers, cardboards, manufactures, and furniture.
The growth of purchases from Argentina and Sweden also stood out, whose shipments to the Chilean market increased 27.4% and 50.2%, respectively.
Infor's information also shows a marked specialization of certain products according to their country of origin. This is the case of natural cork stoppers, where Portugal concentrated 95.9% of imports, and wooden barrels, a category in which France contributed 94% of the total, mainly to supply the wine industry.
The results thus show a forest importing market that not only increased its value during 2025, but also recorded relevant changes in its composition, with a strong advance in panels and veneers and a growing participation of certain international suppliers in specific products.
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