Brazilian company optimistic about Chinese market growth

Suzano, a Brazilian pulp producer, is confident about the future growth of the Chinese market, as the country strives to develop new quality development forces for more higher-quality growth, said its top executive at the China International Import Expo.

Pablo Machado, global executive vice-president at Suzano, said the company looks at the Chinese market from a "long-term perspective" and has great confidence about the growth in the Chinese market.

"The year 2025 will again be a year of growth for Suzano here. We have seen a clear plan from the Chinese government in adjusting its development model, which focuses more on high-quality rather than only high speed," said Machado, who is also president of business management at Suzano Asia.

According to him, the company's pulp business grew 6.6 percent last year in the Chinese market thanks to the country's economic growth and is already its largest pulp export destination, which accounted for over 40 percent of its exports.

"In line with the Chinese government's initiatives to cultivate new quality development forces, particularly to improve the promotion of strategic industries such as new-generation information technology, artificial intelligence, new energy, new materials and biomedicine, Suzano will enhance our scale and competitiveness to meet the growing market demand here," he emphasized.

The comments were made as Suzano underscored its continued efforts to enhance collaboration with local stakeholders in China during the China International Import Expo that ended on Sunday in Shanghai.

At the expo, the company signed agreements with Libang Paper, Baoding Yusen Sanitary Health Supplies and the Jinboshi Group to develop the first tissue products using 100 percent hardwood pulp originating from the company's planted eucalyptus. It also inked a memorandum of understanding with the Bank of Communications to deepen their existing partnership.

According to Machado, China has launched many initiatives in recent years, including the further opening-up policy and some economic stimulus policies, which is the right direction to overcoming the rising economic challenges. "With such continued efforts, confidence will be fully restored," he said.

He added: "Our vision for the future is clear; we remain committed to further strengthening our partnerships with local stakeholders, especially within the sustainability and innovation ecosystem, to accelerate China's shift towards a low-carbon economy."