São Paulo – Brazilian leather export revenues stood at US$ 163.2 million in September, 28% more than in the same period of last year, according to figures disclosed this Thursday (13) by the Confederation of Brazilian Hides and Skins Industries (CICB). In comparison with August 2011, however, foreign sales declined by 15%.
Year-to-date as of September, the industry posted US$ 1.56 billion in export revenues, 19% more than in the same period of 2010. Despite the increased revenues, the volume shipped remained stable, according to the CICB.
The CICB president, Wolfgang Goerlich, estimates that exports should reach US$ 2 billion by the end of the year. Should the figure prove true, it will still be lower than that of 2007, before the international financial crisis, at US$ 2.2 billion.
To the CICB president, the crisis that now plagues Europe “is certainly also making sales harder,” in addition to other domestic factors, according to a statement issued by the organization.
As a business incentive factor, Goerlich cited the first World Leather Congress, due November 9 in Rio de Janeiro.
To date in 2011, the main targets for Brazilian leather were China and Hong Kong, Italy and the United States. The CICB also highlighted sales to Germany, South Korea, Mexico, Vietnam, Taiwan, Hungary, Uruguay, Spain and Nicaragua.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
