The primary forestry production of Brazil in 2003 amounted to R$ 8.627 billion, versus R$ 5.967 billion in the previous year. The silviculture segment (planted forests) increased its participation in the total value of forestry production in the country: it represented 52%, in 2002, and now, in 2003, 65%. The participation of forestry (native vegetation) decreased from 48% to 35% in the same period. Wood extraction also increased its participation, generating 85% of the total value of forestry production, whereas it represented 79% in the previous year.

These data come from the Survey of Forestry Activites, which shows the change of physical production in the period 2002-2003, the participation of segments in the total value of forestry activities, besides representing an analysis of the most importat products, with highlight to the main producing states and municipalities in the 2003 edition.

The overall production value from the non-wood segment amounted to R$ 449.57 million, and the main contributions came from piassava fiber, with participation of 27%; of babassu nuts, 17%; of assa nuts, 16%; of yerba mate, 14%; of carnauba wax, 8% and of Brazil nut, 5%.

Among the 33 main products from forestry activities, 17 recorded output decrease between 2002 and 2003. The main decreases were recorded by ipecacuanha root (-100.00%), jaborandi-leaf (-26.47%), pine-knots (-20.37%) ,cashew nuts (-18.20%) mangabafruit (-12.90%) and Brazil nut (-9.11%) Among the items recording the biggest relative increases, the main highlights are: oiticica seeds (544.91%), cumaru beans (438.89%), carnauba fibers (43.46%), pequi (39.98%), charcoal (13.9%), carnauba powder (9.80%), carnauba wax (9.55%) and assai nuts.

As for the performance of silviculture items, the highlight was the rise of 58.18% in ther production of wookd for other ourposes (furniture, civil construction, etc). The overall output of logwood from planted forests increased 43.18%, having changed from 75,065,442 m³ in 2002 to 107,479,508 m³ in 2003. Besides, the production of coal in silviculture increased 7.4%, that of firewood, 13.85%, and that of resin or oil resin, 37.22%. There was significant reduction in the production of black wattle bark (-77.56%) and eucalyptus leaves (-34.51%).

Minas Gerais accounts for almost 75% of silviculture coal

The main producing state of silviculture coal is Minas Gerais which, in 2003, produced 1,602,744 metric tons, which is equivalent to 74.56% of the national overall (2,149,650 t). The six biggest producing municipalities in the state were: Itamarandiba, Rio Pardo de Minas, Buritizeiro, João Pinheiro, Três Marias e Montes Claros. However, the municipality of Mato Grosso do Sul, Ribas do rio Pardo was the main national producer, with 120 thousand metric tons, corresponding to 5.58% of the total amount produced in the country and 70% of the output of the state of Mato Grosso do Sul.

In relation to the output of silviculture coal, the highlights were the stets of pará, with 35.28% of the 2,27,143 metric tons produced in the country in 2003; Maranhão, with 21.30%; Minas Gerais, with 13.75%; Goiás, with 11.05% and Mato Grosso do Sul, with 9.58%. However, the municipality of Mato Grosso do Sul, Ribas do rio Pardo was the main national producer, with 120 thousand metric tons, corresponding to 5.58% of the total amount produced in the country and 70% of the output of the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. Other important municipalities in Paraná were Dom Eliseu, Ulianópolis, Rondom do Pará and Tailândia, which, together, accounted for 29.95% of the total in the state. In Maranhão, the municipalities of Centro Novo do Maranhão, Bom Jardim and Grajaú were the main producers. In Minas Gerais, the main producer was João Pinheiro, and in Mato Grosso do Sul, Ribas do Rio Pardo. 

The output of silviculture coal has decreased, despite the increase of 7.47% in 2003. This downward trend reflects the deceleration of reforestation by the iron industry in the last few years, which has been compensated by the use of charcoal and coke.

Bahia is the main producer of firewood in Brazil

Bahia is the main producer both of firewood from forestry and from silviculture. In the forestry segment, the total amount produced in Brazil was 47,282,283 m³, and Bahia contributed with 26.59%. Among the main producing states are Ceará (9.31%) and Pará (8.55%). In Bahia, the main producing municipality was Xique-Xique, which appeared in the second position in the national ranking. Although Rio Grande do Sul had participation of only 5.60%, the municipality of Machadinho was the main producer in the country in 2003.

In the segment of silviculture, the production of firewood reached 52,836,984 m³, with Bahia accounting for 38.15% of the total. The main producing states were the municipalities of Esplanada and Conde. Rio Grande do Sul, the second main producer of firewood from silviculture, accounted for 20.84% of the national overall. The municipality of Butiá was the main producer in rio Grande do Sul São Paulo was the third main producing state, with participation of 13.68% of the country overall. Agudos and Itapetininga were the main producing municipalities in the state

Logwood: São Paulo was the leader of the silviculture segment and Pará , of the forestry segment

As for logwood from silviculture, among the overall country output (99,697,483 m³), about 50% were directed to the production of pulp and paer and 50% were directed to other purposes, such as production of furniture, civil construction, etc. São Paulo was the main producing state of wood for pulp and paper and its output increased 4.78% between 2002 and 2003, having changed from 12,710,681 m³ to 13,317,999 m³. Paraná comes in the second position, followed by Santa Catarina and Bahia.

Although São Paulo was the main producer, Nova Viçosa, in Bahia, was the biggest producer pf logwood for pulp and paer, accouting for 3.39% of the national output.

In the forestry sector, the national output of logwood reached 20,667,884 m³, and the state of Pará accounted for 52% of the total. The main producing states in the country - Tailândia, Porel, Paragominas, Almeirinh, Baião, Ulianópolis, Dom Eliseu and Altamira were also the main ones in terms of national production, holding, togeherm 27% of the national output in 2003.