Footwear exports already surpass pre-pandemic levels

Data prepared by the Brazilian Association of Footwear Industries (Abicalçados) show that 11.68 million pairs of shoes were shipped in November, generating US$ 93.2 million. The results demonstrated increases both in volume (+22.3%) and in revenue (+74.5%) compared to November 2020. The results are also higher than in November 2019 (pre-pandemic), showing an increase of 39% in volume and 33% in revenue. The year-to-date result in 2021 shows that the footwear sector shipped 110.77 million pairs, which generated US$ 805.7 million, increasing both in volume (+31%) and in revenue (+34 .6%) compared to the same period in 2020. In comparison with the same period in 2019, the results are 5.6% higher in volume but 9.6% lower in revenue.

The executive president of Abicalçados, Haroldo Ferreira, points out that shoe exports are recovering as of the second half of the year. “The advance of vaccinations in our main international markets and the consequent cooling of Covid-19 has been fundamental for the recovery. The speed of recovery has been surprising”, assesses the executive. According to him, the volume of shoes exported in 2021 is already higher than in 2019 in 77 destination countries, out of the more than 160 importing countries. Another positive note is the increase in shipments of leather shoes which have a greater added value. “In November, exports of leather shoes were much higher than the general average. Exports increased 83.5% in volume and 103.2% in revenue compared to the same month in 2020.” Currently, leather shoes represent almost 40% of the export basket in the footwear sector, in terms of revenue generated.

Destinations
In November, Brazil’s main destination for footwear exports contributed heavily to the positive results. In the month, 1.8 million pairs were shipped to the United States, for which US$ 26.8 million were paid, expressive increases both in volume (+138.8%) and in revenue (+210.6%) compared to the same month last year. Thus, from January to November, the North Americans imported 13.55 million pairs which generated US$ 204.36 million, increases of 59.2% in volume and 61.3% in revenue compared to the same period of 2020.

The second destination for Brazilian footwear abroad in November, Argentina imported 1 million pairs, for which it paid US$ 8.54 million, increases both in volume (+35%) and in revenue (+38.5%) compared to the same month of 2020. Year to date, the country imported 11.8 million pairs, for which US$ 100.9 million were paid, increases of 67.5% and 52.2%, respectively, compared to the same period last year.

The third destination for Brazilian footwear abroad was France. In November, 907,400 pairs were shipped to France, generating US$ 6.3 million, increases of 7% in volume and 0.6% in revenue compared to the same month in 2020. During the 11 months, the French imported 7 million pairs, for US$ 56.6 million were paid, increases of 9.8% and 8.7%, respectively, compared to the same period last year.

Imports
Between January and November, footwear imports totaled 20.4 million pairs, for which US$ 267 million were paid, drops of 17.5% and 10.6%, respectively, compared to the same period in 2020. Vietnam, Indonesia, and China continue to be the main suppliers.

In parts of shoes – uppers, insoles, heels, soles, etc. – accumulated imports totaled US$ 22 million, 22.8% more than in the same period last year. The main origins were Paraguay, China, and Vietnam.

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