ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY OF SAWMILLS THAT PROCESSES TROPICALL WOOD – THE CASE OF JARU COUNTY – RONDONIA STATE - BRAZIL

Abstract

This research analyzed the economic feasibility of break-down (sawing) of native forest logs in seven sawmills in Jaru county – Rondonia State – Brazil. Production cost, commercialization cost, annual gross income and profit were obtained for each sawmill, allowing, therefore, later comparation. In order to obtain these data a transformation coefficient of 54,28% (lumber/logs) (IBAMA) was used, the coefficient of each individual sawmill was obtained. Only the most commercialized 15 tree species were studied. It was concluded that: the average break-down yield was 49.28%, which is lower than 54.28% legally established; taking this break-down coefficient into account all sawmills are making loss, varying from US$ -718.00 to US$ -180,570.00 a year; if the legal break-down factor (54.28%) is considered, four sawmills make profit and three keep making loss; the tree species most sawn are ipê (30.48%), jatobá (12.15%), muiricatiara (8.63%) and cabriuva (7.00%); stumpage prices goes from US$ 5.26/m3 for garapa to US$ 42.11/m3 for cedro; the value of logs at saw mills yeard varies from US$ 26.32/m3 for jitó, muiricatiara and roxinho to US$ 105.26/m3 for cedro and freijó.