São Paulo – Footwear exports from Brazil to the United Arab Emirates increased from January to September this year. The UAE and Saudi Arabia were the top importers of Brazilian shoes among Middle East countries, despite a slight decline in sales to Saudi. The two countries imported a combined 3.12 million pairs, worth US$ 33.5 million, the Brazilian Footwear Industry Association (Abicalçados) reported.
The UAE are the 13th leading buyer of Brazilian shoes. From January to September, the country bought 1.42 million shoe pairs, accounting for 2.3% (USD 16.6 million) of total revenues from shoe exports, up 17.5% from a year ago.
According to the association, Saudi Arabia is the 12th leading destination for Brazilian shoes. The Gulf country imported 1.7 million pairs and accounted for 2.4% (USD 16.9 million) of total export revenues from January to September, down 2.2% from a year ago. Exports from Brazil to the world grossed USD 694.83 million, down 11.9%.
The average price of a shoe pair sold to Arab countries was higher than the national export average. Whereas the national average is USD 8, shoe pair prices averaged USD 9.99 to Saudi Arabia and USD 11.68 to the UAE.
“The Arab markets show great promise, especially the UAE, which is a target of Brazilian Footwear precisely because it’s considered a gateway into the region,” said Abicalçados Projects manager Cristian Schlindwein, referring to Abicalçados’ agreement with the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil) to advertise Brazilian shoes abroad.
“For next year, we are working on a more in-depth study of that market, which should lead to prospecting and the placement of new Brazilian footwear brands. The study should come out in the first half of the year, and will lay the groundwork for a trade mission in the second half,” the executive said.
World
Year-to-date through September, Brazil shipped 86.48 million pairs of shoes to the world. United States, Argentina and France were the leading buyers. In September alone, Brazilian footwear exports fetched USD 81.76 million, up 18.5% from August, but down 9.3% from September of last year.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
