EXPORT COMPETITIVENESS OF RIO GRANDE DO SUL SOY BEANS (2001-2012)

Abstract

The objective of this work is to analyze the competitiveness of soybeanexports from the years of 2001 to 2012. In order to do this, the model ofConstant-Market-Share (CMS) was used, as well as indices of RevealedComparative Advantage (IVCR) and Regional Guidance (IOR), also Indices ofCoverage (IC) and Frequency (IF) were used to quantify the effects of the mainnon-tariff barriers imposed by leading markets such as China and the EuropeanUnion. Data regarding soybean exports from Rio Grande do Sul and imports andexports from China and the European Union during the period of 2001 to 2012were collected from the Analysis System of Foreign Trade Information (ALICE),the Secretary of Foreign Trade (SECEX), the United Nations Commodity TradeStatistics Data base (UnComtrade), and the World Trade Organization (WTO). Theresults indicated that Rio Grande do Sul presented Revealed ComparativeAdvantages for soybeans throughout the period analyzed. Regarding the sourcesof growth in the first period, the effect of world trade growth was the onethat most contributed to exports and, in the second period, the effect ofexports´ destination was predominant. In relation to regional orientation, theexport of soybeans is oriented to China and not to the European Union. Analysesof Indices of Coverage (IC) and Frequency (IF) showed that China was morerestrictive than the EU during the period studied.