Forwarder Machine Performance in Eucalyptus Forests in Brazil with Different Productivity Levels: An Analysis of Production Costs

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of the mean individual volume per tree (MIV) on the productivity of forwarder machines and the production cost in eucalyptus plantations located in southern Bahia, Brazil. MIV positively influenced the productivity and production costs, promoting a more attractive cost in the latter when the individual volume per tree increased. The machine’s productivity for MIV of 0.13 m3 was 42.06 cubic meters per effective working hour (m3Ewh−1), while the productivity for the MIV of 0.58 m3 reached 60.97 m3Ewh−1, corresponding to an increase of 42.59% between the minimum and maximum MIV classes. The extracted cost (m3) decreased by 30.12% from USD 2.49 to 1.74, respectively, when comparing the minimum and maximum MIV classes. The coefficient of determination obtained in the forwarder productivity modeling was significant (R2 = 92%), indicating the machine’s productivity can be explained by the mean individual volume per tree. The highest forwarder yields in the highest average volume per tree (MIV) classes provided better energy efficiency indices for the machine; that is to say, when the forwarder became more productive, the ratio between fuel consumption per cubic meter of timber harvested decreased, providing better performance for the respective index. There was a difference in extraction costs of USD 147.83 per hectare between the lowest and highest productivity forests (MIV varying from 0.15 to 0.58). The mechanical availability and mean operational efficiency of all forwarders evaluated were above 80%, which contributed to effective machine productivity performance. Maintenance and repairs represented the largest portion of operational costs (33.59%), followed by labor (22.49%), depreciation (14.33%), and fuel (10.11%).