Following the recent conclusion of the Paris Olympics, the annual Forest Products Latin America Conference organsised by Fastmarkets kicked off today. The event saw two prestigious awards being presented to prominent figures in the pulp sector after the opening remarks presented by Paulo Hartung, President of IBA, the Brasilian forest industry association,  and José Carlos da Fonseca, President of Empapel, the Brasilian packaging industry association.

The Lifetime Achievement Award was bestowed upon Walter Schalka, the former CEO of Suzano. Under his leadership, Suzano grew into the world’s largest pulp producer. Schalka shared the stage with his successor, João Abreu, who has recently taken over the reins at Suzano.

The Latam CEO of the Year Award was given to Cristiano Teixeira, the CEO of Klabin. Teixeira has played a significant role in both the Brazilian and global pulp and paper markets, solidifying Klabin’s position as a key industry player.

The conference is set to focus extensively on the pulp market, including discussions on production capacities, cost structures, global demand, and usage trends. Fastmarkets’ experts and economists will offer their insights throughout the week.