Brazil cements its global corrugated footprint with record R$33.2 billion revenue

A historic milestone for Latin America's packaging powerhouse

The Brazilian corrugated board industry has officially entered a new financial echelon. According to the newly released Anuário Estatístico 2026 by EMPAPEL (Associação Brasileira de Embalagens em Papel), the sector closed 2025 with a staggering R$33.2 billion in revenue. This figure represents the highest value ever recorded in the historical series, underscoring a period of robust consolidation for fiber-based packaging in the region.

As we navigate through the second half of 2026, these consolidated figures from the previous year provide a critical diagnostic of the market's health. The data, meticulously compiled by FGV/Ibre, confirms that Brazil comfortably maintains its position as the sixth-largest producer of corrugated board globally. The sheer volume of production backs up the financial gains, with 4.2 million tonnes of boxes, sheets, and accessories shipped throughout 2025.

Beyond the numbers: Employment and structural demand

What makes this R$33.2 billion milestone particularly relevant for the global packaging supply chain is the underlying stability it suggests. The corrugated sector is traditionally viewed as a reliable thermometer for broader macroeconomic activity. In Brazil's case, the record revenue is not merely a byproduct of inflation or temporary price hikes in kraftliner and recycled fluting, but rather a reflection of sustained physical demand and an optimized product mix.

Furthermore, the social footprint of this industrial performance is substantial. The @EMPAPEL yearbook highlights that the sector now sustains over 29,000 direct jobs. This workforce is distributed across a highly specialized network of corrugators and converters that have increasingly invested in automation and operational efficiency to meet the stringent demands of their end-users.

• Total Revenue (2025): R$33.2 billion (Historical record)
• Volume Shipped: 4.2 million tonnes
• Global Ranking: 6th largest producer
• Direct Employment: Over 29,000 jobs

The driving forces behind the volume

Historically, the food and beverage sector has been the undisputed anchor for corrugated packaging in Brazil, often accounting for nearly half of the total volume shipped. Throughout 2025, this trend persisted, coupled with a stabilized e-commerce landscape that continues to demand high-performance, lightweight, and sustainable secondary packaging. The structural shift away from single-use plastics in retail and logistics has provided a continuous tailwind for paper-based alternatives.

For international machinery suppliers, kraftliner exporters, and global packaging conglomerates, Brazil's performance signals a mature market ripe for the next wave of technological upgrades. As converters look toward 2027 and beyond, the focus will inevitably shift from pure capacity expansion to maximizing yield, reducing waste, and integrating advanced digital printing capabilities to add further value to the corrugated box.

The Brazilian corrugated sector has proven its maturity, transforming raw volume into unprecedented financial value while maintaining a robust employment ecosystem. Will the domestic market's appetite for sustainable packaging be enough to push Brazil into the top five global producers by 2030, or will export strategies need a radical overhaul? Follow The Paper for daily news, market signals and key updates from the global paper, corrugated and packaging industry. — Sigue toda la actualidad del sector en www.thepaper.ai