This work analyzed the level of substitution of six Amazonian species on the international sawnwood market, by employing the substitution elasticity model. Data supplied by the Brazilian Department of Foreign Trade (SECEX) was collected monthly from January/1996 to September/2007. The species analyzed were: mogno (Swietenia macrophylla), cedro (Cedrela spp.), virola (Virola surinamensis), louro (Nectandra spp. e Ocotea spp.), angico (Anadenanthera spp.) e ipê (Tabebuia spp.). The elasticities indicated that all of the species as substitutes for mogno. For the species which possess different physical characteristics, market factors probably related to the supply guarantee of mogno have influenced these results. In general, the results suggested a similarity among the species considered noble (mogno, ipê and cedro) on the international market indicating them as good substitutes among themselves.
tropical sawnwood; substitution elasticity; international market
