Brazil’s footwear exports dip in August as Chinese imports surge, says Abicalçados

Data released in August by the Brazilian Footwear Industry Association (Abicalçados) paints a troubling picture for the sector. While exports continue to fall — now further impacted by the 50% tariff imposed by the United States on Brazilian products — imports are on the rise, particularly from China.

In August, footwear exports totaled 7.64 million pairs, generating US$77 million, down 0.5% in volume and 9.1% in revenue compared with the same month last year. Year-to-date, shipments reached 67.52 million pairs worth US$651.1 million, up 5.7% in volume but down 0.6% in revenue versus the first eight months of 2024.

See below a historical series of Brazilian footwear exports from January 2022 to July 2025. The chart was prepared with DataLiner data:

Brazilian Footwear Exports | Jan 2022 to Jul 2025 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (Click here to request a demo)

August’s result was strongly affected by the U.S., the main international destination for Brazilian footwear. Shipments to the U.S. in the month totaled 803,700 pairs worth US$21.4 million, down 17.6% in volume and 1.4% in revenue compared with August 2024. Year-to-date, exports to the U.S. amounted to 7.7 million pairs worth US$156.3 million, an increase of 10.7% in volume and 5.8% in revenue year-on-year.

“The tariff imposed by the U.S., which accounts for more than 20% of all Brazilian footwear exports, was already felt in August. In September, when we will have a full month under the additional tariff, the setback is expected to be even greater,” said Abicalçados’ executive president, Haroldo Ferreira. According to him, the tariffs make Brazilian exports “practically unfeasible” given fierce competition from Asian producers, especially the Chinese, in the U.S. market.

Argentina remains the second-largest destination for Brazilian footwear. In August, the country imported 1.63 million pairs worth US$18.44 million, an increase of 68% and 11.6%, respectively, compared with August 2024. Year-to-date, Argentina imported 9.35 million pairs worth US$135.68 million, up 37.4% in volume and 5.3% in revenue year-on-year. Among leading exporting states, Rio Grande do Sul shipped 21.4 million pairs worth US$315 million, up 1.1% in volume but down 4% in revenue compared with the same period last year.

CHINA

On the import side, Abicalçados highlighted the rising inflow of Chinese footwear. “With U.S. tariffs targeting Chinese products, producers there are redirecting surplus volumes to other markets, including Brazil, at very low prices,” Ferreira explained, stressing that this creates unfair competition in Brazil’s domestic market and harms local industry.

In August, Brazil imported 492,000 pairs of Chinese footwear worth US$3.7 million, up 41.5% in volume and 67.2% in value year-on-year. Year-to-date, imports from China totaled 8.45 million pairs worth US$31.18 million, up 9% in volume and 14.1% in value compared with the same period of 2024.

Overall, Brazil imported 3.55 million pairs of footwear in August, worth US$49.27 million, an increase of 23% in volume and 18.4% in value versus August 2024. From January to August, imports totaled 30.13 million pairs worth US$387 million, up 26.9% in volume and 28.8% in value year-on-year.

Source: Rádio Guaíba

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