An Exploratory Study on the Gains and Problems Faced by the Metal-Mechanic Companies of the Alcohol Cluster When Dealing With Export

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to analyze the gains and collective difficulties to the export of supplying companies of the ethanol producing sector. The companies are participants of a cluster called Arranjo Produtivo Local do Álcool - Local Productive Arrangement Alcohol - (APLA) and partners of the Agência Brasileira de Promoção de Exportações e Investimentos - Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion - (ApexBrasil), in order to stimulate the export of their products and services. The methodology of this research is descriptive, exploratory and qualitative, performed through multi-case studies. The data collection was performed through in loco interviews with 08 supplying companies of machinery and equipment for the sugar and alcohol productive chain and participants of international business rounds by the APLA/APEX. The results reveal that these companies’ most evident collective gains are related to the increase of commercial contracts at the international level; access to new markets; and an increase in selling their products and services. The article contributed in understanding the limits and potentialities associated to the collective gains in local productive arrangements.