São Paulo – Brazilian footwear exports to Saudi Arabia totalled US$ 8 million from January to July 2010, representing growth of 70% over the same period of last year. The increase was higher than that of the industry’s total foreign sales, which reached US$ 815.8 million, 15.2% more using the same basis of comparison, according to data supplied by the Brazilian Footwear Industries Association (Abicalçados).
"This represents an important plus in our imports, especially at a moment of crisis," says Heitor Klein, the executive director of Abicalçados. "We have developing work for several years in that region, not only in Saudi Arabia, but in the United Arab Emirates as well. Now, we are beginning to gain strength there," says the executive regarding the growth of exports to the Arab country.
Volume-wise, Brazil shipped 804,000 pairs of shoes to the Saudis, representing growth of 40.8% over the first seven months of 2009. The industry shipped a total of 89 million pairs, as against 77.3 million last year. According to Klein, Saudi Arabia was one of a few countries to which sales increased in the first half. The country ranked 22nd in the list of leading importers of Brazilian shoes.
The United Arab Emirates ranked 24th, having imported the equivalent of US$ 7.36 million, representing growth of only 1% over 2009. In terms of volume shipped, sales have dropped by 16%, and 426,000 pairs were shipped in the first seven months of the year, as against 507,000 pairs in the same period of 2009. Klein, however, claims that the price paid for imported footwear in the Emirates, US$ 17, is higher than the average of US$ 14 paid by other Arab countries.
Women’s sandals comprised the bulk of shoes exported to the Arabs, especially those of medium and high added value. The states of Rio Grande do Sul and São Paulo were the ones that sold the most to the Middle East. According to Klein, the region is very important to Brazilian footwear exports. "We have had actions targeting the Middle East for many years now. It is a high income market that purchases high value-added products, and we are paying attention to it."
The United States were the leading buyers of Brazilian shoes in the first half this year, having shipped 23.6 million pairs, which generated US$ 228.7 million in revenues. The United Kingdom ranked second, with 4.6 million pairs of shoes imported and US$ 110.1 million in revenues. Italy, the third leading target, purchased 3.2 million pairs, equivalent to US$ 77.8 million in revenues.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
