South America

Between 2006 and 2008, 4.5 million tones a year of new pulp capacity is expected to start operation in South America alone. The vast majority of this pulp is intended to be sold to China.

Brazil is currently the world leader in new pulp capacity, with 6.7 million tones new capacity planned.

None of these new mills are planned to have de-inking/recycling facilities and there is no increase planned in agricultural fibre production. The mills are also amongst the most polluting of industrial facilities and pose a serious threat to rivers, fisheries and drinking water.

Associated with the expansion of pulp capacity is a huge increase in the area of industrial tree plantations. These vast areas of monocultures have severe impacts on biodiversity, water, land rights and livelihoods.