São Paulo – Exports of shoes from Brazil to the Arab countries totalled US$ 36.4 million last year, growth of 29% over 2007, according to figures disclosed yesterday (20) by the Brazilian Association of Shoe Manufacturers (Abicalçados).
The increase countered a trend in the industry’s overall trade balance, as Brazilian shoe exports in 2008 decreased 1.6% compared with the previous year. Revenues from shipments totalled US$ 1.8 billion last year.
The United Arab Emirates were the leading destination for Brazilian sales in the Arab world and the 18th market in the overall ranking. Imports by the country reached US$ 18.3 million, 35.8% more than in 2007. Shipments totalled 1.33 million pairs, growth of 21.8%.
Next in the list of importers from the Middle East and North Africa are Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Oman, Bahrain, Syria, Qatar, Libya and Djibouti.
In the overall ranking, the leading destination for Brazilian shoes were the United States, followed by the United Kingdom, Argentina, Italy, Venezuela, Spain, Holland, Portugal, France and Chile.
The reduction in sales to the United States, despite the country remaining at the top of the ranking, was pointed out by Abicalçados as one of the main contributing factors to the decrease in Brazilian exports in 2008. According to the organisation, the United States imported 23.2% less in terms of volume, resulting in revenues 32.6% lower.
A positive aspect, however, was the significant rise in shipments to Italy, a country with a long-standing tradition in shoe manufacturing and exports. Sales to the country totalled US$ 149 million, growth of 78.7% over 2007.
In terms of supplier states, Ceará ranked first volume-wise, with 57.3 million pairs, and Rio Grande do Sul led the ranking in terms of revenues, with US$ 1.1 billion. Sergipe, in turn, was the state that recorded the greatest increase in foreign sales, with growth of 37.9% in shipped volume and of 57.7% in revenues.
Brazilian shoe imports, according to Abicalçados, totalled US$ 307.4 million in 2008, growth of 46.8% in comparison with 2007. China was the main supplier, followed by Vietnam and Indonesia.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
