Abicalçados: Brazilian footwear industry sees rising imports and flat exports in 2025

Brazilian footwear industry imports and exports ended 2025 with a clear divergence, as imports rose sharply while exports remained broadly stable, according to data compiled by the Brazilian Footwear Industries Association (Abicalçados) based on figures from the Foreign Trade Secretariat (Secex).

In December, footwear imports totaled US$ 56.98 million and 3.58 million pairs, increases of 33.6% in value and 12% in volume compared with the same month of 2024. Over the full year, imports reached US$ 585 million and 43.2 million pairs, up 22.5% in value and 20.6% in volume year on year.

Vietnam, China and Indonesia accounted for the bulk of footwear imported by Brazil and expanded shipments throughout 2025. Imports from Vietnam totaled US$ 287 million and 14.43 million pairs, increases of 28.2% in value and 21.4% in volume from 2024. Shipments from China amounted to US$ 46.53 million and 10.4 million pairs, up 15.7% in value and 6% in volume. Imports from Indonesia reached US$ 142.35 million and 9 million pairs, rising 29% in value and 32.8% in volume compared with the previous year.

Exports, by contrast, showed limited variation. In 2025, Brazilian footwear industry exports generated US$ 958.2 million from shipments of 103.94 million pairs, down 1.8% in value but up 6.7% in volume compared with 2024. In December alone, exports totaled US$ 72.9 million and 9.74 million pairs, increases of 0.8% in value and 24.4% in volume year on year.

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Footwear Exports | Month-on-Month Comparison | 2023-2025 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

US tariffs weigh on export performance

According to Abicalçados, the performance of exports was heavily affected by U.S. tariffs imposed in August 2025, which introduced a 50% surcharge on Brazilian footwear entering the United States.

“The result was not worse only because shipments to other countries, such as Spain, Paraguay and Ecuador, increased after the tariff hike,” said Abicalçados executive president Haroldo Ferreira.

However, Ferreira noted that footwear exported to these alternative markets carries a lower average price, weighing on exporters’ profitability. Compared with 2024, the average export price of Brazilian footwear fell 8% in 2025 to US$ 9.20 per pair.

The United States remained the main destination for Brazilian footwear exports. In 2025, the country imported US$ 211.9 million worth of Brazilian footwear, totaling 10.2 million pairs, declines of 2% in value and 1% in volume from 2024. In December, exports to the U.S. fell to US$ 13.47 million and 761,000 pairs, down 20.1% in value and 23.2% in volume year on year.

Exports to Argentina, the second-largest destination, also weakened in value. Over the full year, shipments to Argentina reached US$ 179.66 million and 13.68 million pairs, an 11% drop in value but an 8.6% rise in volume compared with 2024. In December, exports to Argentina totaled US$ 4.46 million and 394,300 pairs, declines of 47.7% in value and 31.3% in volume from a year earlier.

Paraguay ranked third among destinations. In 2025, the country imported US$ 48 million worth of Brazilian footwear, totaling 9.47 million pairs, increases of 12.6% in value and 13.6% in volume year on year. In December, exports to Paraguay reached US$ 3.76 million and 527,280 pairs, up 75.2% in value but down 2.5% in volume compared with December 2024.

By state, Rio Grande do Sul led footwear exports by value in 2025, generating US$ 457.7 million from shipments of 31.96 million pairs, declines of 5.7% in value and 1% in volume from 2024. Ceará followed with US$ 189.43 million and 32.6 million pairs, down 4.9% in value but up 8% in volume, while São Paulo ranked third with US$ 100.98 million and 6.7 million pairs, increases of 10.6% in value and 14.7% in volume.

Source: Rádio Guaíba

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