São Paulo – Revenues from Brazilian footwear exports to Saudi Arabia were up 50.2% year-to-date through July this year from the same period last year, according to the Brazilian Footwear Industry Association (Abicalçados). Saudi Arabia was the 10th leading buyer and imported US$ 14.7 million worth of Brazilian shoes year-to-date through July this year. In the same period of 2013 revenues stood at US$ 9.8 million.<\/p>\n
The other Arab country on the list of top 20 foreign destinations for Brazilian shoes, the United Arab Emirates, has also stepped up its purchases year-to-date through July, by 6.3%. Imports stood at US$ 10.8 million, as against US$ 10.1 million in the same period of 2013. The Emirates imported 975.700 pairs. Saudi Arabia imported 1.4 million pairs.<\/p>\n
Whereas sales to the two Arab countries increased, overall exports declined, by 3.1% year-to-date through July. Revenues stood at US$ 608.7 million and 71.9 million pairs were sold. In July alone, exports declined by 6.3% to US$ 86.3 million and 8.24 million pairs.<\/p>\n
According to Abicalçados, the scenario could be worse if not for the United States market rebound, with imports were up 8.5% July on July. “The conditions are detracting from competitiveness. Although the US dollar price is gradually rising in relation to Brazil’s real, we have failed to improve our results, a sign of a crisis-ridden industry, seriously hit by the loss of its main market, Argentina, and burdened by ever-higher production costs,” said Abicalçados chairman Heitor Klein.<\/p>\n
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum<\/strong><\/p>\n