One of the most dynamic industrial sectors in Brazil, the petrochemical industry is located in three complexes (Camaçari, São Paulo and Triunfo), and today it represents around 2% of the Brazilian GNP. This industry was established in the country nearly 30 years ago as a governmental initiative, when the government adopted a tripartite model of a commercial society. In this model, 1/3 of the capital belonged to Petroquisa, 1/3 belonged to a Brazilian partner and 1/3 belonged to a foreign partner, usually the supplier of the technology through a joint venture. In spite of the fact that this industry is consolidated and has a large potential of exports, the petrochemical industry is still technologically dependent upon exogenous sources. Moreover, it seems that this dependency will not be eliminated in the near future. The present paper examines the process of technological acquisition by the Brazilian petrochemical industry, especially the use of joint ventures as the way chosen to obtain technology.
Brazilian petrochemical industry; technology transfer; joint-ventures; petrochemical complexes