Análise da importação brasileira de arroz

Abstract

This study tried to investigate the behavior of Brazilian demand for post-Mercosur rice and its relation with variation in income, in domestic and foreign prices, in industry and in Brazil?s trade policy. For the analysis, a theoretical model was developed, which based the specification of econometric models for rough and milled rice. The statistical investigation considered historical data from January 1995 through June 2010, aiming mainly to test the adequacy of linear and nonlinear relations that represent short and long-term variables of the Brazilian foreign trade in the sector. Furthermore, there is the goal of setting the chronology of the cycles of rice imports and verifying their relationship with idiosyncrasies of the conduct of economic policies, as well as of weather events. The elasticities estimated showed signs consistent with the economic model set in their majority. The results achieved allowed the interpretation of the rice import market dynamics in Brazil. In general, long-term impacts from income and domestic prices were the main determinants of imports; it should be pointed out the much lower behavior of both types of rice in quarterly equations. The price of imports contributes less than proportionately, while the importer seems to adjust the quantity imported in the period with some lag. The industry, based on quarterly data, sustained its counter-cyclical relation with the imports of both types of rice, although it has been not proved significant for most models. The correction dynamic of the model to long-term shocks was eased in monthly non-linear equations, while it remained nearly stable in quarterly estimates. Besides, still according to results, it is possible to say that expansion cycles of imports of milled rice are on average longer than the contractions. Finally, one can understand that import cycles were strongly related to adverse climatic events, as well as to alterations in trade policy.