Canada has roughly 7-folded its Brazilian wood pulp imports

Brazilian exports of chemical wood pulp to Canada have posted a dramatic and accelerating expansion, surging 685% between 2023 and 2025. This is not a fleeting adjustment but a structural shift in the global supply chain for a critical industrial commodity. The total value of shipments climbed from just US$ 4.1 million to over US$ 32.2 million in the period, signaling a new, durable trade relationship between Brazil, a pulp-producing powerhouse, and Canada, a mature market with specific industrial needs.

This isn't a recovery or a rebound; it's the establishment of a significant new trade flow. The consistency of the growth underscores the trend's solidity, making it a crucial development for operators in the paper, packaging, and cellulose-derived products sectors.

Year by year

The trajectory shows not just growth, but accelerating momentum. The foundation was laid in 2023, with a respectable US$ 4.1 million in exports. In 2024, the trade more than doubled, jumping 164% to reach US$ 10.8 million. This strong performance was then eclipsed in 2025, as exports nearly tripled again, posting 197% year-over-year growth to hit US$ 32.2 million. The pattern is clear: Canadian demand for Brazilian pulp is not only growing, it is growing at a faster rate each year. This three-year arc confirms a strategic sourcing decision by Canadian buyers rather than a temporary gap-fill.

What's sustaining the move

Several structural factors underpin this trend. Brazil is the world's largest producer of hardwood pulp, primarily from fast-growing eucalyptus, which offers distinct fiber properties prized in products like tissue paper, printing paper, and packaging. Canadian industry, while a global leader in softwood pulp from coniferous trees, often needs to blend in hardwood pulp to achieve desired product characteristics like softness and printability.

This surge suggests a strategic diversification by Canadian manufacturers. In a global market marked by supply chain disruptions, securing a stable, high-volume supply from a competitive producer like Brazil is a logical move to de-risk operations. The efficiency of Brazil's pulp sector, driven by favorable climate and advanced silviculture, allows it to serve as a reliable source for global markets, including those with their own large forestry industries.

Our analysis at Kyrodata indicates that buyers are increasingly looking for long-term partners capable of providing consistent quality and volume. Brazil fits that profile perfectly for chemical wood pulp, and this flow to Canada is a textbook example of modern supply chain optimization.

Practical implications

This established trend has direct consequences for market participants.

For importers:

• With the Brazil-Canada lane now proven as a high-volume route, review procurement strategies to move from spot purchases to longer-term contracts, locking in supply and hedging against price volatility.
• Begin technical evaluations to optimize the blend of Brazilian hardwood pulp with domestic softwood fiber to enhance product lines or create cost efficiencies.

For exporters:

• The accelerating demand justifies investment in dedicated logistics and warehousing solutions for the North American market to reduce lead times and improve service levels.
• Assess opportunities to move up the value chain by offering specialized pulp grades tailored to the specific needs of Canadian paper and packaging manufacturers.

Source: MDIC ComexStat

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