Brazilian footwear shipments still on the rise

Data by the Brazilian Footwear Industries Association (Abicalçados) show that, between January and May, footwear shipments totaled 64.24 million pairs, which generated US$ 538.72 million, an increase of 30.3% in volume and 66.5% in revenue compared to the same period last year. As for the month of May, alone shipments totaled 10.5 million pairs (+19.8%), generating US$ 104 million (+59.5%).

The executive president of Abicalçados, Haroldo Ferreira, highlights that the increase in exports to the United States continues to be decisive. Between January and May, Brazilian footwear manufacturers shipped 10 million pairs there, which generated US$ 146.3 million, up both in volume (+87.2%) and revenue (+108.6%) compared to the same period last year. “Shoe exports to the United States, in volume, are almost 80% higher than those carried out in the same period of 2019, in the pre-pandemic period,” he says.

According to the executive, exports to South America, which are 30% above pre-pandemic levels, also contributed to the positive outlook of the sector’s balance.

“Macroeconomic and even political factors have been influencing the results. In terms of politics, the trade war between the United States and China stands out, overtaxing Chinese shoes imported by American buyers. In terms of macroeconomics, the highlight is the rising freight cost from Asia, which has made buyers look for geographically closer suppliers. In this case, as Brazil is the largest industry outside Asia, we appear as a relevant player”, says Ferreira.

The second destination for Brazilian footwear shipments in the first five months of the year was Argentina, where 6.82 million pairs were shipped, which generated US$ 74.62 million, increases of 64% and 93.7%, respectively, compared to the same 2021 period.

In third place appears France, which imported 4 million pairs (+31%) for US$ 29.4 million (+25.2%) in comparison to the first five months of last year.

States

Rio Grande do Sul continues to be the largest exporter of footwear in Brazil. Accounting for more than 45% of the value generated by the shipments done between January and May, Rio Grande do Sul factories shipped 18.17 million pairs, generating US$ 246 million in revenue, which corresponds to increases of 53.7% and 80%, respectively, compared to 2021.

The second-largest exporter in 2022 so far is Ceará, from which 19.67 million pairs worth a total of US$ 120.9 million came, up 25.3% and 47.4%, respectively.

São Paulo secured the third position (4.13 million pairs and US$ 53.48 million, up 19.6% and 48.7%, respectively). In comparison, Paraíba ranked fourth with 10.3 million pairs sold for US$ 34.67 million, a 1% decrease in volume and a 43% increase in revenue).

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