World's largest pulp complex opens in Brazil

The largest forestry and pulp complex has begun operations in southern Brazil, highlighting the country's booming forestry sector.

Brazilian-based JBS-Friboi, a global exporter of meat products, has invested around $3 billion into the industrial El Dorado Celulose e Papel Brasil complex, which is located close to Porto Alegre, the capital of Rio Grande do Sul. The pulp production complex promises an initial production capacity of 1.5 million tons of pulp each year.

JBS-Friboi has said that they expect to see a turnover of around $1 billion during the El Dorado Celulose e Papel Brasil complex’s first year of production, and plans to double production by the year 2017.

The firm has also revealed that it plans to expand the complex to allow for even greater pulp production in 2021.

The complex – which can lay claim to being the world’s largest single-line pulp mill – will be using planted eucalyptus forests as its basic element, which is an entirely renewable source. The pulp will then be exported to markets across Asia, Europe, South America and North America.

JBS-Friboi has confirmed that the pulp production complex will be focused on the energy efficiency of both the industrial and forestry processes.