São Paulo – Brazilian exports of leather totalled US$ 493.81 million in the first quarter, growth of 25% in comparison with the same month last year, according to figures disclosed on Thursday (14) by the Confederation of Brazilian Hides and Skins Industries (CICB). This was the best result for the period in recent years, according to the organisation.
Despite that, the result is still 7% lower than that registered in the first three months of 2008, before sector exports suffered the effects of the international crisis. "The industry’s performance is still suffering the effects of the exchange crisis, a fact recognised by the government [of Brazil]," said CICB, Wolfgang Goerlich, in a press statement by the organisation, referring to the constant appreciation of the dollar as against the Brazilian real.
The main markets for Brazil in the period were China and Hong Kong, Italy, the United States and South Korea. Other prominent destinations, according to the CICB, were Germany, Mexico, Vietnam, Taiwan, Indonesia, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, South Africa and Hungary.
In March alone, leather shipments totalled US$ 191 million, growth of 18% over February and 19% over March 2010. Shipments totalled 37.22 million kilograms.
*Translated by Mark Ament
