São Paulo – The two Arab countries in the list of 20 leading importers of Brazilian footwear have climbed positions in the ranking. Saudi Arabia went from the tenth position in quarter one to ninth in the four-month period ended April. The United Arab Emirates went from 16th to 14th, according to figures supplied by the Brazilian Footwear Manufacturers Association (Abicalçados).
Exports to the two countries increased significantly. Saudi imports were up 92.3% in volume, from 539,300 pairs from January through April 2013 to 1.03 million in the same period this year. Shipments nearly doubled. Revenues from Brazilian exports to Saudi Arabia were up 85.9%, from US$ 5.8 million to US$ 11 million. The Saudi share of overall export revenues went from 1.6% to 3%.
The Emirates imported 84.1% more footwear from Brazil, from 330,000 pairs from January through April last year to 607,600 pairs in the same period this year. Revenues from these exports, however, were lower, indicating that the Arab country purchased shoes at lower prices than last year. Export revenues stood at US$ 5.3 million from January through April 2013, and US$ 6.7 million in the same period this year. Product price was down 31%.
The leading Brazilian footwear importing country year-to-date through April was the United States, followed by Angola, France, Argentina, Paraguay, Colombia, Bolivia, and Russia. Saudi Arabia ranked ninth, followed by Chile, Australia, Peru, Germany, the Emirates, Ecuador, Italy, Cuba, the United Kingdom, Israel and Mexico.
Overall, Brazilian footwear exports fetched US$ 359.9 million from January through April, at 46.3 million pairs shipped. Revenues were down 2.5% and shipped volume was up 6.2%; footwear prices were down 8.2%.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
