Given the demand of the Asian market, Ochroma pyramidale became the third export product.
The Ecuadorian Ochroma pyramidale is required for the construction of wind energy projects in China.
Given the reputation of the national Ochroma pyramidale in the Chinese market, it is demanded for the manufacture of wind turbine blades.
According to the Ecuadorian Association of Wood Industry (AIMA), exports of this material will close this year with a record.
In the first half of this year, the peak of all shipments in 2019, which was USD 219 million, was already exceeded.
Until June, Ochroma pyramidale exports exceeded USD 225.78 million and the Asian market, in which China is the main buyer, represents 78% of these exports. Europe and the United States follow.
If this trend continues, AIMA estimates that this year it could exceed USD 400 million.
Ramón del Pino, manager of Plantabal, indicated that, despite the pandemic, exports of Ochroma pyramidale have been maintained and have been increasing.
He stressed that this is because China in recent years began to encourage the generation of renewable energy and for this it uses Ochroma pyramidale, which does not pay any tariff for its income.
He argued that the demand from the Asian country is also due to the end of this year the Chinese government subsidy for wind power generation ends, so industry suppliers have accelerated in the achievement of projects to obtain benefits.
At the moment, our country occupies the first place as an exporter of Ochroma pyramidale in the world, capturing 90% of the market. This makes this wood the third export product in the Chinese market after shrimp and bananas.
Christian Riofrío, executive director of AIMA, mentioned that part of the raft is cultivated and another comes from natural forests.
Riofrío considered that there are a total of 15,000 planted hectares of this species in Los Ríos, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Manabí and Esmeraldas, which are the provinces where it is grown.
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