REGIONAL CONCENTRATION OF CHARCOAL PRODUCTION IN THE STATE OF PARAÍBA, BRAZIL (1994 - 2016)

Luiz Moreira Coelho Junior,Edvaldo Pereira Santos Júnior,Márcio Lopes Da Silva,Maísa Santos Joaquim,Luís Antônio Coimbra Borges,Mariane Gama De Medeiros

doi:10.1590/1806-90882019000100005

Abstract

ABSTRACT Charcoal has an economic, social and environmental importance, because in addition to being a source of energy, it generates employment and income in the rural environment. Therefore, knowing your market is fundamental for the decision-making of those segments that depend on this raw material. This work analyzed the regional concentration of charcoal production in the state of Paraíba, Brazil, from 1994 to 2016. The data used to measure the regional production concentration (in tons) of native Paraíba charcoal were obtained from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) from 1994 to 2016. The indicators used were the Concentration Ratio [CR(k)], the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI), Theil's entropy index (E) and the Gini Index (G). The main results show that the mesorregions of Borborema and Sertão Paraibano present concentrations in charcoal production from Paraíba. The CR(k) of the municipalities had a low to moderately low concentration and a moderately high to a high concentration for the microregions; the HHI and E showed deconcentration tendencies from competitive markets; the G showed strong to very strong inequality for the municipalities and microregions on average. It is concluded that the concentration of charcoal production at regional levels is not concentrated, even though it presents a moderate concentration in the partial indices [CR(k)] for the Paraíba microregions.

Highlights

Charcoal has been used as an energy source since ancient times
The main results show that the mesorregions of Borborema and Sertão Paraibano present concentrations in charcoal production from Paraíba
The CR(k) of the municipalities had a low to moderately low concentration and a moderately high to a high concentration for the microregions; the Hirschman Index (HHI) and E showed deconcentration tendencies from competitive markets; the G showed strong to very strong inequality for the municipalities and microregions on average

Summary

Introduction

Charcoal has been used as an energy source since ancient times. Its use as fuel served to produce the first metal tools in the Bronze Age. Charcoal is an important source of energy consumed in tropical regions, especially in developing countries for both domestic and industrial use (Vital and Pinto, 2009; Silva et al, 2014). Charcoal is widely used domestically for cooking and heating. As far as Brazilian industry is concerned, it is an important resource as both an energy source and as a reducing agent, mainly for the steel segment, especially for pig iron and ferroalloy and cement (Coelho Junior et al, 2006a; Uhlig et al, 2008; Rousset et al, 2011)

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion