EN 
PT_BR 
Demand for forest biomass is expected to gain new momentum in the Midwest, with distinct trends between Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul. This assessment comes from Marcelo Schmid, a specialist in Strategic Solutions for Forests and Natural Resources, who compares industrial expansion in the two states and points to a shift in the focus of the forest-based market.
In Mato Grosso do Sul, the landscape remains marked by the strength of the pulp and paper industry, but some new investments still lack a defined timeline. Among the projects without a date to move forward are the expansion of Eldorado in Três Lagoas and the Bracell unit in Bataguassu, which received a preliminary license in July but still has no start date for construction. Suzano and Arauco appear as examples of operations and projects that are proceeding as planned.
In Mato Grosso, the dynamics are different. The state has eleven new or expansion projects for corn ethanol plants, distributed across several municipalities. A large portion of these units uses forest biomass as an energy source in the production process. Current consumption is estimated at around 9 million tons per year and could reach 13.5 million tons when the planned projects are fully operational in the coming years.
According to Schmid, this contrast shows a geographical shift in new demand. Mato Grosso do Sul remains relevant due to the volume of industrial activity already installed, while Mato Grosso is now concentrating opportunities linked to the growth of corn ethanol. "For those who follow this market, it makes sense to redirect some commercial attention there, especially because the buyer profile and the biomass contracting logic of ethanol plants are quite different from what is practiced with pulp mills," he concludes.
