São Paulo – The United Arab Emirates increased its imports of Brazilian footwear by 45% in quarter one this year, according to data from the Brazilian Footwear Industry Association (Abicalçados) based on revenues, which went from US$ 4.5 million in quarter one (Q1) of last year to US$ 6.4 million in Q1 2015.
Volume-wise, the Arab country bought 700,800 pairs of shoes from Brazil, against 424,200 pairs in Q1 2014, which means even higher growth at 65.2%. Revenues increased to a lower extent because the UAE bought shoes at a lower average price this year than in 2014. The price averaged US$ 10.63 in Q1 last year and dropped to US$ 9.32 in Q1 2015.
Saudi Arabia’s Brazilian shoe imports also increased in Q1. Revenues were up 3.8%, from US$ 7.6 million in Q1 last year to US$ 7.9 million in Q1 this year, and volume was up 5.7% from 682,900 to 722,100 pairs. The Saudis also paid less in Q1 this year, since the average price per pair was down 1.8% from US$ 11.21 to US$ 11.01.
The UAE and Saudi Arabia are the only Arab countries in the top 20 list of importers of Brazilian shoes. Saudi Arabia ranks 10th and the UAE ranks 11th in the overall ranking. In Abicalçados’ ranking, Saudi Arabia is placed higher than the UAE, even though it purchases smaller volumes, because it buys higher value-added shoes from Brazil, therefore revenues from sales are higher.
The leading importers of Brazilian shoes in Q1 this year were, in this order, United States, France, Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Paraguay, Russia, Angola, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Australia, Peru, Italy, Germany, Philippines, Israel, Spain and Ecuador.
Overall, footwear exports from Brazil were down 12% in volume and re venues in Q1 this year. Revenues reached US$ 241.5 million and shipped volume reached 31.6 million pairs.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
