Resumo:

The theme covered in our article is relatively new, because only now there are reasons to discuss global markets for alcohol strictly on economic terms, at some distance from ineffective state protectionism. Most of our considerations will be based on the recent Brazilian experience in producing and using alcohol as a fuel, initiated in the mid-1970s. Additionally, we will be taking into account the knowledge developed in research institutions like the Copersucar Technology Center (today Centro de Tecnologia Canavieira), Planalsucar (today Ridesa – Inter-University Network for the Development of the Sugar-Alcohol industry), CTA – Aerospace Technology Center, IEA – Institute of Agricultural Economics, Unicamp, USP, Federal University of São Carlos, UFRJ, just to mention a few among many others. Finally, we are also using our professional experience at Job Economia, particularly in regard to foreign markets as consultants to BID and Unido.