São Paulo – Brazilian footwear exports to the United Arab Emirates climbed 86.4% in volume and 40.9% in revenue year-to-date through August from a year ago. The period saw 1.32 million pairs sold to the Arab country, grossing USD 9.56 million. The United Arab Emirates placed 13th on the list of leading buyers of shoes from Brazil. The figures were released by Brazilian Footwear Industries Association (Abicalçados).
Year-to-date, exports reached 76.66 million pairs of Brazilian footwear for USD 644 million, up 8.2% in volume and 2.5% in revenue from a year ago. The leading destinations still are the United States, Argentina, and France.
In August, Brazil exported 9.47 million pairs to the world, up 7.4% year-on-year. However, revenue was down by 6% year-on-year, grossing USD 78 million. The decline of more than 12% in the average price of the product shipped is one of the reasons for the results.
Abicalçados CEO Harold Ferreira, who took office in early August, said in a press release that the uneven result in volume and revenue may be explained by the dollar appreciation, which depreciates Brazilian footwear abroad, and the beginning of the Summer collection exports.
“Since the industry costs are in reals, when the dollar is appreciated we can sell for lower prices,” Ferreira explains in the press release, stressing the 15% increase in slipper exports in August, which greatly impacts the overall result, considering that 50% of the exported volume from Brazil belongs to the segment. Figures from Abicalçados point out that the average price of shipped product in August was USD 8.24, down from USD 9.10 a year ago.
The United States were the leading buyers abroad in August, up 18% in pairs (748,580) and 5.8% in revenue (USD 15.63 million) from a year ago. Year-to-date, Americans imported 8 million pairs for USD 135.87 million, up 32% and 35.4%, respectively, from a year ago.
“Traditionally, 70% of American footwear imports are from China. With the new tariffs, US importers have sought alternative suppliers, opening the way for our product,” Ferreira explained.
Second leading destination abroad remains Argentina. August saw our neighbors importing 1.12 million pairs for USD 11 million, down 38% in volume and 29% in revenue from a year ago. Year-to-date, Argentineans imported 5.76 million pairs and USD 65.73 million, down 30.6% in volume and 36.5% in revenue from a year ago.
France, the third leading destination of Brazilian footwear abroad, imported 1.18 million pairs for USD 6.36 million in August, up almost 300% in volume and 52.4% in revenue from a year ago. Year-to-date, France imported 4.93 million pairs and USD 39.5 million, up 23.4% in volume and down 1.2% in dollars year-on-year.
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
