Brazilian footwear exports to U.S. rise, but total shipments fall in July

Data compiled by the Brazilian Footwear Industry Association (Abicalçados), based on figures from the Foreign Trade Secretariat (Secex), show that in July, footwear exports totaled 7.18 million pairs and US$76.74 million—declines of 7.3% and 11.8%, respectively, compared to the same month in 2024. For the first seven months of 2025, exports remain positive but on a downward trend. During the period, 59.88 million pairs were shipped abroad, generating US$574 million—a year-over-year increase of 6.6% in volume and 0.7% in revenue.

Abicalçados’ executive president, Haroldo Ferreira, points out that the slowdown in exports is mainly due to intensified international competition, with Asian—especially Chinese—products being redirected from the U.S. to other markets, many of which have traditionally been strongholds for the Brazilian industry. “Chinese exporters are redirecting their shipments to avoid the U.S. surcharge. This has affected our performance in key markets in Europe and Latin America,” Ferreira notes.

In the first seven months of the year, the United States was the top international destination for Brazilian footwear, with 6.9 million pairs shipped for US$134.9 million—representing a 15.3% increase in volume and a 7% increase in revenue compared to the same period last year. In July alone, Americans imported 1 million pairs for US$23.12 million, a year-over-year increase of 26.2% in volume and 6.4% in value.

Here is a historical overview of Brazilian footwear exports to the United States starting from January 2022. The chart was prepared using data from DataLiner:

Brazilian Footwear Exports to the United States | Jan 2022 – June 2025 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (Click here to request a demo)

From January to July, Argentina was the second-largest destination for Brazilian footwear. During the period, Argentinians imported 7.72 million pairs for US$117.26 million, representing a 32.3% increase in volume and a 4.6% increase in value compared to the same interval in 2024. In July, Argentina imported 1.3 million pairs for US$13.34 million, representing a 6.9% increase in volume but a 32.8% decrease in value compared to July 2024.

Paraguay was the third-largest destination for Brazilian footwear in the first seven months of 2025, importing 5 million pairs for US$23.4 million—an increase of 4.3% in volume and a 5.3% decline in revenue compared to the same period last year. In July, Paraguay imported 102,000 Brazilian-made pairs for US$2.2 million—down 23.2% in volume and 23% in revenue versus the same month in 2024.

By state
In July, all three of Brazil’s top footwear-exporting states posted negative results. Last month, manufacturers in Rio Grande do Sul shipped 2.6 million pairs for US$40.47 million, representing a decline of 1.4% in volume and 7.5% in revenue compared to July 2024. Year-to-date, the state exported 18.57 million pairs for US$273.2 million, representing a 3.6% increase in volume but a 2% decline in revenue compared to the same period in 2024.

Ceará, Brazil’s second-largest footwear exporter, shipped 2 million pairs in July for US$13.4 million—year-over-year drops of 9.4% in volume and 14.2% in revenue. For the first seven months of the year, the northeastern state exported 19.5 million pairs for US$117.68 million—an 11.2% increase in volume but a 1.1% drop in revenue compared to the same period last year.

The third-largest footwear exporter was São Paulo, which exported 469,740 pairs in July for US$6.83 million, representing a 17.7% increase in volume but an 8.8% decline in revenue year-over-year. For the first seven months of 2025, São Paulo’s factories exported 4.12 million pairs for US$59.8 million, increasing both in volume (+23.5%) and in revenue (+16.2%) compared to the same period in 2024.

Source: Abicalçados

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