São Paulo – Brazilian exports of leather dropped in the first quarter of this year as against the same period in 2011, according to figures disclosed by the Confederation of Brazilian Hides and Skins Industries (CICB) disclosed on Thursday (12).
According to the institution, foreign sales totalled US$ 464 million from January to March, 6% less than in the first months of 2011. Shipments totalled 6.5 million units, a reduction of 9% in the same comparison. In March, sales totalled US$ 173.7 million, growth of 15% over February this year, but a reduction of 9% over the same month in 2011.
Despite the negative figures, the president at CICB, José Fernando Bello, believes that the situation should improve throughout the year, thanks to participation of 32 Brazilian tanneries in Hong Kong International Fair and to the search for new markets. The institution palns to export more finished products, which are more expensive. Of total revenues in the first quarter, 68% were generated by finished and partly finished products.
The main buyers of Brazilian leather in the first quarter, according to a study by the CICB, were China and Hong Kong, which, together, purchased the equivalent to US$ 156.3 million (33.7% of the total), followed by Italy (US$ 90.4 million, or 19.5% of the total) and the United States (US$ 56.9 million, or 13% of the total). Together, these countries bought 66.2% of all Brazil exported in the period.
*Translated by Mark Ament
