CONCENTRATION OF WORLD EXPORTS OF FOREST PRODUCTS

• Main Authors: Luiz Moreira Coelho Junior, José Luiz Pereira de Rezende, Antônio Donizette de Oliveira
• Format: Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Published: Universidade Federal de Santa Maria 2013-12-01
• Series: Ciência Florestal
• Subjects: economia florestal; concentração industrial; mercado internacional
• Online Access: http://cascavel.ufsm.br/revistas/ojs-2.2.2/index.php/cienciaflorestal/article/view/12353

<p><a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.5902/1980509810538">http://dx.doi.org/10.5902/1980509812353</a></p><p><a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.5902/1980509810538"></a>This study analyzed the degree of concentration in worldwide exports of forest products in the period rangingfrom 1961 to 2008. The data used are available at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization(FAO). The concentration was determined by the concentration ratio [HR (k)], the Herfindahl-HirschmanIndex (HHI), Theil Entropy Index (E) and the Gini index (G). The main conclusions were: The aggregateBrazilian share in the world exports of forest products is increasing over time; the most important sectors inthe aggregate world exports of forest products, in decreasing order, were pulp, lumber, paper and cardboard,wooden panels, saw and fire wood. According to Bain, the concentration ratio of the four and eight largestexporters of forest products is moderately low; the HHI and Theil Entropy (E) show a reduction in theconcentration of world exports of forest products and greater competition among the countries that sell suchproducts; the Gini index indicates that despite the increase in export of forest products over the period ofanalysis, a smaller number of competitors concentrate increasingly larger shares of international exports of these products; summary indices (HHI, E and G) indicated that increased competition has not led to a moreequitable distribution of forest products so as to bring down inequalities and concentration of profits in thesector; despite the downward trend in CR (4) and CR (8), there is an increase in G, probably because theeconomies of scale in the international trade have been held by few competitors; caution is recommendedin the analysis of summary indices (HHI, E and G) which had better be checked jointly with the partialindices [CR (k)] in order to avoid wrong conclusions; countries with a significant share in total exports, suchas Brazil, should seek business strategies to retain competitive advantages, especially those arising fromeconomies of scale.</p>