São Paulo – Footwear exports from Brazil to the United Arab Emirates totaled USD 6.46 million from January to July, a decline of 17.4% over the same period of last year. In all, 685,000 pairs were exported, down 20% in the same comparison. The UAE are the 19th main market for Brazilian footwear exports and the first among Arab countries.
The data was shown this Tuesday (07) by the Brazilian Footwear Industries Association (ABICALÇADOS). Total foreign sales by the sector generated USD 545.4 million, down 10.3% over 2017’s first seven months. The sector exported 60.2 million pairs, a decline of 10.7% in the same comparison.
ABICALÇADOS’ president, Heitor Klein, said, in a statement, that the total result, in July, especially, reflects the devaluation of currencies from emerging countries against the dollar, which makes the footwear price, in dollar, more expensive in these markets. It’s not the case, however, of the UAE, since the local currency, the dirham, has its price linked to the dollar.
The executive also said that in July there’s a “off-season” in the industry, since exports of footwear from the spring-summer collections were already done in previous months. In July, shipments of Brazilian footwear generated USD 58.4 million, down 26.4% over the same month of last year. In all, 4.8 million pairs were sold abroad, a decline of 40% in the same comparison.
“I believe that it’s unlikely that the bad result of July repeats itself in the next few months,” said Klein, in a statement. “We should end the year with a decline in exports, but not as sharp as the one seen until last month,” he added.
Translated by Sérgio Kakitani
