São Paulo – Grendene, one of the leading footwear manufacturing companies in Brazil and the country’s main exporter of the product, saw a 19% increase in exports in quarter three this year as against the same period in 2011, and a 36.6% increase in the nine-month period ended September this year compared with the same period of last year. According to results released this Thursday (25th), export revenues reached R$ 87.7 million (US$ 43.2 million) in quarter three and R$ 309.5 million (US$ 152.5 million) in the first nine months this year.
According to the company, the exchange rate led the prices of exported shoes to increase in Brazilian currency. Grendene has announced that it will not change its strategy for the international market, by which it seeks to grow by selling higher value-added products. In fact, the average price of shoes exported by Grendene went from R$ 7.91 (US$ 3.89) in September 2011 to R$ 9.9 (US$ 4.8) in the same month of this year. In the nine-month period ended September, the price went from R$ 7.65 (US$ 3.77) to R$ 10 (US$ 4.9).
In terms of volume shipped, the company exported 8.8 million pairs of shoes in quarter three this year, down 5.6% from 9.3 million pairs exported in the same period of 2011. In the nine-month period ended September, however, the export volume increased from 29.6 million to 30.9 million pairs. The company makes famed sandal and flip flop brands such as Melissa, Ipanema, Grendha and Rider.
Grendene had good output and revenues figures in quarter three this year, at 47.5 million pairs made, up 18% from the same period of 2011. Gross revenues stood at R$ 616.4 million (US$ 303.8 million), up 19.8%. In the nine month period ended September this year, output reached 121 million pairs, up 21.6% from 99.6 million in the same period last year. Gross revenues reached R$ 1.5 billion (US$ 739 million) in the first nine months this year, up 26% from R$ 1.2 billion (US$ 591 million) in the same period in 2011. Exports accounted for 20.1% of gross revenues in the nine month period ended September this year.
The company informs that it is continuing the process of consolidating its brand on the international market. In the third quarter, it held road shows at three shopping malls in Australia, showcasing historical models such as Aranha, Donna and the Love System sneakers, as well as more recent models signed by top designers.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
