Cellulose

Abstract

Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay today account for well over a third of world exports of cellulose, yet this industry only came into existence in the late twentieth century. The evolution of this industry in Brazil is the object of this chapter. This was an infant industry that required direct government support to be successful, even leading in the early stages to government ownership of the processing plants. Forestry laws, government investments in research, education, and subsidies for factory construction all were needed in order to encourage local and foreign capital. Crucial was the adaptation of eucalyptus trees to local conditions which permitted Brazil to produce more wood per hectare and per tree in shorter periods than all other major world producers.