Fastmarkets Forest Products Latin America Conference 2026: Industry Leaders Meet in São Paulo
From 10 to 12 August 2026, São Paulo, Brazil, hosted the Fastmarkets Forest Products Latin America Conference. Held at the Renaissance São Paulo Hotel, the event brought together around 400 industry participants and more than 50 speakers from across the pulp, paper and packaging supply chain.
Over two and a half days, producers, recyclers, converters, end users, investors and logistics specialists discussed a market undergoing significant change. The programme focused on cost pressures, shifting trade flows and the strategic decisions shaping business competitiveness.
China’s Growing Influence on Global Markets
China’s expanding integrated production capacity was one of the conference’s central topics. The country’s industrial growth is reshaping global pulp trade and influencing future demand. For Latin American producers, this creates a stronger need to maintain cost competitiveness, operational efficiency and disciplined investment strategies.
Brazil continues to benefit from structural advantages, including productive forests, resource availability and established logistics infrastructure. Executives from companies such as Suzano, Bracell and Arauco highlighted the importance of these strengths. Long-term competitiveness also depends on production scale and efficient mill operations.
Costs, Investment and Profitability
Another major theme was the balance between new investment and financial discipline. With high production capacity and pressure on margins, companies must carefully assess opportunities for growth. Wood and logistics costs continue to influence profitability across the supply chain.
The conference also examined the recycled paper market. Producers face rising transportation costs, volatile recovered paper prices and difficulties passing all cost increases on to customers. At the same time, investment in recycling-based production and demand for packaging remain important factors for the sector’s long-term outlook.
Climate Risk, Logistics and Industrial Strategy
The programme also addressed climate and geopolitical risks, financial market developments and the outlook for several industry segments. These included tissue, graphic paper, boxboard, personal care and packaging.
Supply chain resilience emerged as a key priority. Companies are exploring ways to improve forest management, productivity and the flexibility of logistics networks. These measures are increasingly important in responding to trade disruptions and extreme weather events.
The discussions highlighted how closely market performance is linked to factors beyond production alone. Trade policies, currency movements, infrastructure and environmental pressures all influence commercial decisions throughout the forest products industry.
Cristián Infante Receives the 2026 CEO of the Year Award
During the conference, Cristián Infante, CEO of Arauco, received the Fastmarkets Latin America CEO of the Year 2026 award. The recognition is based on votes from investment analysts and portfolio managers who follow the Latin American forestry sector.
The next Fastmarkets Forest Products Latin America Conference is scheduled for 9–11 August 2027, once again in São Paulo. The event will bring together industry leaders to examine market developments and the strategies shaping the future of Latin America’s forest products, pulp, paper and packaging industries.
https://www.fastmarkets.com/events/fastmarkets-forest-products-latin-america-conference/
