Brazilian shoe exports decreased by 7% in quantity and 3.3% in value in September. However, there are indications of stability as demand increases in important markets like Argentina and the United States.
According to data from the Brazilian Footwear Industries Association, Brazil exported 7.8 million pairs of shoes in September 2024, which is 7% fewer than the same month in 2023. The total value of these exports was 81.3 million US dollars, a decrease of 3.3% compared to the previous year. Although the numbers are negative, these are the smallest decreases seen this year, which could mean that the market is becoming more stable. In the first nine months of 2024, Brazil exported 71.64 million pairs of shoes to other countries, earning 736.1 million US dollars. This is 21% fewer shoes and 18.8% less money than in the same period of 2023.
The president of Abicalçados, Haroldo Ferreira, said that the decrease in exports was expected because last year’s numbers were lower. He also mentioned that imports from the United States are growing slowly, increasing by 4.2% in the first seven months of the year. For September, Ferreira talked about the good performance of exports to Argentina and the United States, which are the two main countries where Brazil sells shoes. He predicted that the total exports for 2024 could decrease by 14% to 19%.
Brazil has a very big shoe industry. In 2023, Brazil exported fewer shoes than in 2022, mainly because people in the United States bought less. US is the largest importer of Brazilian Shoes. In September, Brazil sold 740,470 pairs of shoes to the United States, which is 31.1% more than in September 2023. The total value of these exports was 17.22 million US dollars, an increase of 32% compared to the previous year. However, from January to September, exports to the United States decreased by 2.7% in quantity and 5.2% in value compared to the same period in 2023.
In September however, Argentina became the country where Brazil sells the most shoes, taking the place of the United States. Brazil exported 2.18 million pairs of shoes to Argentina in September, which is 112.5% more than in September 2023. The total value of these exports was 25.62 million US dollars, an increase of 48% compared to the previous year. However, from January to September, exports to Argentina were lower than expected, with a decrease of 23.8% in quantity and 16.7% in value compared to the same period in 2023.
In September, Paraguay was the third country where Brazil sold the most shoes. Brazil exported 520,400 pairs of shoes to Paraguay, which is 42% fewer than in September 2023. The total value of these exports was 4 million US dollars, a decrease of 24.5% compared to the previous year. From January to September, exports to Paraguay decreased by 21.8% in quantity and 14.5% in value compared to the same period in 2023.
Other major importers of Brazilian footwear include France, Germany, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Colombia, UK and Netherlands.