After eight consecutive months of highs compared to 2021, footwear exports declined, in pairs, for the second consecutive month. Data compiled by the Brazilian Association of Footwear Industries (Abicalçados) indicates that, in October, 11.23 million pairs were shipped abroad, generating 114 million US dollars, a decrease of 12.7%.
In September, exports per pair of shoes had already fallen by 6%, indicating a slowdown in the international market. In the ten months accumulated, the balance is still positive. Between January and October, shoe factories shipped 119 million pairs for 1.1 billion dollars, an increase in both volume (+20.2%) and revenues (+55%) compared to the same period last year.
The executive chairman of Abicalçados, Haroldo Ferreira, explains that the decline in volumes over the past two months reflects the slowdown in the world economy. "According to the IMF, more than a third of the global economy will contract this year or next, while the three largest economies – the United States, the European Union and China – will continue to slow. We will definitely have an impact on the footwear sector," he comments. According to the executive, in October the United States imported 44% fewer Brazilian shoes than in the same month of 2021. Another factor that explains the drop in shipments is Argentina, the second main destination for Brazilian footwear abroad. In crisis and with high inflation, the neighboring country imported 36% less Brazilian shoes in October, compared to the same month last year.
Destinations
Between January and October, the main destination of Brazilian footwear abroad was the United States, where 16.24 million pairs were shipped, generating 296 million US dollars, an increase in both volume (+38.2%) and revenues (+66.6%) compared to the same period last year.
The second main destination for green-yellow footwear abroad was Argentina. Between January and October, 14.34 million pairs were exported, generating 157.64 million US dollars, an increase both in volume (+33.2%) and in turnover (+70.6%) compared to the same period of 2021.
France appears as the third destination for Brazilian footwear in the international market. In the ten months of the year the French imported 5.54 million green-yellow pairs for 54 million dollars, a 10.2% decrease in volume and a 7.3% increase in revenues compared to the same period last year.
States
The main exporter of shoes to Brazil is Rio Grande do Sul. Between January and October, 36.57 million pairs left the Rio Grande do Sul plants, which generated $520.6 million, an increase of 42% and 64.3%, respectively, compared to the same period last year.
The country's second largest exporter in the period was Ceará, which shipped 34.78 million pairs that generated $227.8 million, increases of 16% in volume and 36.6% in turnover compared to the same period in 2021.
In third place among footwear exporters is São Paulo. Between January and October, 9 million pairs left the São Paulo plants for 117.8 million dollars, an increase in both volume (+32%) and turnover (+57%) compared to the same period last year.
Minas Gerais ranks fourth among footwear exporters, with increases in both volume (+28.2%) and turnover (+77%) compared to the same period of the previous year. In ten months, factories in Minas Gerais shipped 10.9 million pairs, which generated $70.5 million.
Asian-driven rising imports
Parallel to the slowdown in footwear exports, imports in the sector are growing. Driven by Asian countries - Vietnam, Indonesia and China -, which represent almost 85% of the total footwear imported from Brazil; in October, imports amounted to 1.63 million pairs for 33 million US dollars, an increase of 54% in volume and 95.3% in turnover compared to October 2021. The main source of imported footwear, Vietnam exported 80% more footwear to Brazil than last October, while Indonesia exported 83% more and China 34%.
In the first ten months of the year the imports of footwear have been 22 million pairs, for which 304,4 million US dollars have been paid, both in volume (+25%) and in revenues (+21%) compared to the same range last year. In the period, the main source of imported footwear was Vietnam (6.7 million pairs and 141.84 million US dollars, down 5.3% in volume and up 3% in turnover compared to the same period of 2021). This was followed by Indonesia (US$2.57 million and US$52 million, 17% and 25.3% respectively) and China (US$9.2 million and US$43.4 million, respectively, 52.2% and 48.4%).
In footwear components - uppers, heels, soles, insoles, etc. - imports for the ten months of the year were 24 million dollars, 13% more than in the same period last year. The main origins were China, Vietnam and Paraguay.
