(Reuters) – Chilean commercial corporation Empresas Copec stated on Tuesday that the Chinese market for its forestry items can come to be much more difficult if paper manufacturers battle to enhance sales amidst unpredictability over united state toll plans.
“Most of our customers that export, especially to the U.S., really don’t know what the price of their goods is going to be,” stated Cristian Infante, that heads Copec’s forestry arm Arauco, in a discussion. “So they’re trying to buy as little as possible.”
Arauco, which offers pulp and wood panels worldwide, adds the mass of Copec’s profits, however saw its core profits dip over 22% in the initial 3 months of 2025 as pulp rates dropped and it delivered smaller sized quantities.
Infante cautioned that rates can remain to drop in May.
“When Chinese customers feel that the prices are close to the bottom, they will start talking. When that will be, that’s a very good question,” he included, keeping in mind that current information on talks in between the united state and China had actually made futures markets dive.
Regarding Copec’s united state market, Infante stated he took into consideration the marketplace secure for the time being, although prices had actually raised for parts of materials utilized in timber panels amidst volatility over brand-new import tax obligation plans.
“I wouldn’t say it’s booming,” he stated. “All this volatility that we’ve seen due to the tariff issue has affected the market.”
In Europe, on the other hand, Copec stated unpredictability and worries are expanding when faced with the feasible application of brand-new united state tolls and possible profession disputes with various other nations.
(Reporting by Sarah Morland; Editing by Kylie Madry)
