Commercial relations of Derivatives between Oil-OPEC Brazil: A Preliminary Approach

Abstract

The trade of oil and oil products in the world is markedly of high magnitude, since that input is a major source of energy, and, even more, represents political, financial and social power, and is one of the raw materials of paramount importance in industrial production. Such importance was proven in the 1970s, before the crisis, generating serious consequences on the world stage. The objective of this study is to analyze, in a preliminary way, the relations of the oil trade between Brazil and the countries of Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries – OPEC. Methodologically, it resorts to a literature review and then to the construction of foreign trade indexes, including: indicator ‘exports, import dependence indicator, Verdoorn index, relative specialization index, trade specialization index and regional orientation index. To test these indexes were used the products of the Chapter 27 of the classification table of Mercosur – NCM, all are petroleum based. After the analysis, we realized the great dependence of Brazil in relation to imports of these products and the low export capacity for OPEC, demonstrating that the country still depends greatly on imports of OPEC products, and that this organization does not is a large Brazilian trading partner in the sector in question.