Uruguayan forestry industry development

During the Uruforest 2026 regional forum in Juan Lacaze, forestry industry leaders called for increased political engagement and regulatory agility. Diego Carrau of Montes del Plata urged political authorities to recognize the sector as a primary economic driver and emphasized that regulations should be based on scientific evidence to avoid bureaucratic delays that demotivate producers.

Nelson Ledesma of the Sociedad de Productores Forestales noted that while the sector has increased efficiency over the past 40 years, further improvements are needed to enhance global competitiveness and export capacity.

Subsequent reports highlighted the economic scale of the industry, noting that Montes del Plata accounted for 1.3% of Uruguay’s GDP and 6.9% of total goods exports over the previous three years. The sector also supports a large value chain involving over 2,100 supplier companies. Additionally, Uruguay shared its expertise in sustainable development and carbon capture at the II Colombian Bioeconomy Week, aiming to foster international cooperation in biomaterials and forest industry innovation.