The competitiveness of the Ceará State, Brazil, in the international fruit market: the case of melon.

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the exportation competitiveness of the Melon produced in the State of Ceará, Brazil, from 1998 to 2003. For that, the following exportation performance indicators were used: Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA), Cover Rate (CR), and Constant Market Share (CMS). The melon, the main exporting fruit of the State, presented considerable increase in the lineup of exportation, and that considers inclusion of new markets. That fact is explained, basically, by the competitive effect. The gains regarding competitiveness came as an answer to the favorable internal conditions such as governmental incentives toward the development of the irrigated agriculture, specially, fruit production.