A AGROINDÚSTRIA DO CAJU NO NORDESTE DO BRASIL: ESTRATÉGIA COMPETITIVA EM RELAÇÃO AO MERCADO INTERNACIONAL

Abstract

The Cashew Nut Agroindustry was established in the Northeast of Brazil, more specifically in Ceará, in the beginning of the fiscal incentives system for the region. This industry has been nurtured in the international competitive environment from its start. Recently, it has been facing new challenges given the new competitive conditions in the international market. Therefo- re, it needs to change its competitive strategy. This paper provi- des an analysis of the main features of the competitive condi- tions of the Northeast Agroindustry at world level; it also at- tempts to suggest a new competitive strategy that would allow the sustainability of the industry through productivity improve- ment and reduction of high level of idle production capacity. At the moment, it is at a high level of underutilization. The kernel of the proposed strategy, the paper conclude, is centered in the Northeast's entry in the international market of Cashew Nut Ker- nel(CNK) in natura, as buyer, thus changing India's, our main competitor, monopsonistic position, and, as a result, inducing changes in the cost structure of India production.