Surging imports put Brazil’s footwear industry under pressure

Brazilian footwear imports continued to rise in the first half of the year, driven largely by shipments from Asia, adding to the pressure on a domestic industry already facing weaker exports and a difficult home market.

Brazil imported 25.9 million pairs of shoes between January and June, worth $307 million, according to data compiled by the Brazilian Footwear Industries Association, Abicalçados, from figures released by the country’s Secretariat of Foreign Trade, or Secex. Volumes rose 15.9% from the same period last year, while spending increased 13%.

In June alone, imports totaled 3 million pairs worth $48.1 million, up 1% in volume and 7.6% in value from the same month of 2025.

Abicalçados Executive President Haroldo Ferreira said the steady rise in imports has become a growing concern for Brazilian manufacturers.

“The Brazilian industry is simultaneously dealing with pressure in the domestic market, declining export revenue and increasing competition from imported footwear at the expense of locally made products, often under trade practices considered unfair by the World Trade Organization,” Ferreira said.

He added that Abicalçados has been warning the federal government about the risks of what it describes as predatory imports.

“According to our estimates, the sharp increase in imports prevented the creation of 7,800 direct jobs in the footwear industry during the first half alone,” Ferreira said.

Asia supplies more than 87% of imports

Asia accounted for 87.2% of all footwear imported by Brazil during the first half.

China was the leading supplier, shipping 9.7 million pairs worth $26.5 million. Compared with the first six months of 2025, volumes rose 27.4%, while the value of imports increased 13.3%.

In June, imports from China totaled 408,430 pairs worth $4.14 million, up 2.3% in volume and 22.9% in value year on year.

Vietnam ranked second among Brazil’s footwear suppliers. Shipments reached 6.83 million pairs worth $150.57 million between January and June, representing increases of 5.2% in volume and 17.9% in value.

Brazil imported 1.23 million pairs from Vietnam in June, worth $26 million, up 4.1% and 9.8%, respectively, from the same month last year.

Indonesia was the third-largest supplier in the first half, exporting 3.68 million pairs to Brazil for $69.24 million. Volumes rose 14.2%, while import value increased 1.9%.

The trend reversed in June, when Indonesian shipments fell 37.4% to 413,240 pairs and their value declined 18.8% to $7.28 million.

Imports of footwear components—including uppers, soles, heels and insoles—totaled $26.48 million in the first half, up 19.4% year on year. China, Vietnam and Paraguay were the leading suppliers.

Footwear exports fall 17.9%

While imports continued to rise, Brazilian footwear exports moved in the opposite direction. The combination caused the industry’s trade surplus to shrink 55.1% in the first half, its weakest result for the period since the data series began in 1997.

Brazil exported 49 million pairs of shoes worth $408.2 million between January and June. Shipments fell 7% in volume and 17.9% in value from the same period last year.

In June, exports reached 8.1 million pairs worth $59.16 million. Volumes rose 18.1% year on year, but revenue fell 15.7%.

Despite the uncertainty created by U.S. import tariffs on Brazilian footwear, the United States remained the industry’s leading export market in the first half.

Brazil shipped 5.6 million pairs to the United States, generating $85.25 million in revenue. Volumes fell 3.6% from a year earlier, while export value declined 23.6%.

In June, shipments to the U.S. market dropped 20.7% to 805,560 pairs, while revenue fell 17.9% to $17 million. Abicalçados said the decline also reflected a high comparison base in June 2025.

According to Datamar’s maritime cargo throughput data, footwear exports to the United States fell 25.7% in the first five months of the year compared with the same period a year earlier. That means only 466 TEUs were shipped to the North American market. See more details below:

Footwear Exports to the United States | Jan 2023 – May 2026 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

Argentina was the second-largest destination. It imported 2.72 million pairs of Brazilian footwear worth $43.5 million during the first half, down 57.5% in volume and 58.1% in value.

June exports to Argentina totaled 303,500 pairs worth $5.68 million, declines of 54.4% and 43.5%, respectively, from the same month last year.

Despite the broader downturn, stronger performance in some markets helped limit the decline.

Paraguay ranked as Brazil’s third-largest footwear export destination in the first half, purchasing 4.18 million pairs worth $22.88 million. Although volumes fell 3.8%, revenue increased 13.1%.

In June, Paraguayan imports of Brazilian footwear rose 36.9% to 582,550 pairs, while their value increased 5.2% to $2.67 million.

Source: Abicalçados

Sharing is caring!