Evaluación ex ante de las ventajas comparativas de la producción de aceite crudo de palma derivado de una plantación típica del municipio de San Alberto, Cesar

Abstract

The present study focuses on the measurement of comparative advantage in the production and trade of crude palm oil from a palm company in the municipality of San Alberto, Cesar. A simulation model of the oil production system was designed to allow ex ante budgets, investments, revenues and process costs over a 20 year horizon. The present value of these items expressed by the ton of crude oil was used to estimate the resource cost of an indicator of comparative advantage and the effect of economic policies on production using the MAP method. For this indicator estimated at US $ 0.01 per dollar of import substitution exports, it is confirmed that, under the assumptions used in the study, palm oil has a comparative advantage for its production and export. The society highly values the use of land in this economic activity and the recent economic policy for reflection and favoring the consumer rather than the producer. Maintaining comparative advantage requires policies that protect the sector, improve productivity through science and technology in a devaluation environment.