The Brazilian Association of Footwear Industries (Abicalçados) is concerned about the latest data on Brazilian footwear imports. According to the entity, in January, footwear imports reached the value of US$ 49 million, 104% more than in the same month of last year. Representing more than 80% of imports, three Asian countries make up the list: China, Vietnam, and Indonesia. [Aumento de mais de 100% nas importações preocupa ... - expansao.co ]
Haroldo Ferreira, executive president of Abicalçados, emphasizes that the Brazilian footwear industry is concerned about the increase in imports from Asia that began in the second half of last year. “With the normalization of Asian freight and the end of China’s Covid Zero restriction policy, imports skyrocketed. These are products that, most of the time, arrive in Brazil at prices well below market rates, making competition with the national industry unfair and threatening not only the industry activity but thousands of jobs,” warns the executive, emphasizing that Chinese shoes arrive in Brazil for just over US$ 4 per pair.
Asian Invasion
In January, according to data prepared by Abicalçados, the primary source of imports was Vietnam, from where imports totaled US$ 26 million, 175% more than in the first month of last year. The second origin was Indonesia, with US$ 8 million and a 67.2% increase compared to January 2022. Finally, completing the ranking is China, where imports totaled US$ 6.35 million, 32.4% more than in January 2022.
