Market information at decision-making process in sugar and ethanol market business: the case of ethanol price indicators

Abstract

This study approaches the theme Market Information (MI) at sugar and ethanol sector context, having as object of study sugar-cane mills and fuel distributors located at São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro states. The aim was to analyze the importance of MI according to the view of those agents in relation to the research offered by specialists from a Research Center (RC). The method used to obtain quantitative data was a closed questionnaire with multiple choice questions driven to the enterprises and an interview with specialists of RC. The results show that these companies consider MI in their decision-making process, mainly as a reference for closing deals in the spot market. Also, as a tool for evaluating workers’ performance in the commercial area, index for contracts or even as an important source to develop economical analysis. As for the decision-making, it was not possible to propose a standard model for decision making; however the mills use a relatively similar sequence of decision-making, considering their financial and productive features. The distributors also follow the same tendency