Footwear exports shipped 123.6 million pairs for $900.3 million in 2021. In volume +32% and in value + 36.8% compared to 2020. Compared to 2019, the figures are 7.4% lower in dollars but +7.3% in volume. In December, 12.88 million pairs were shipped, for $94.64 million; +38.8% in volume and +58.8% in revenues compared to the same month of 2020. Even higher than those recorded in December 2019, with +24.5% in volume and +17.2% in revenues. The data are from the Brazilian Association of Footwear Industries(Abicalçados).
The executive chairman of Abicalçados, Haroldo Ferreira, points out that the indices point to consolidating the recovery of Brazilian shoe factories in the international market. “Exports have been primarily responsible for the recovery in activity this year,” he says, noting that the exchange rate and the increase in shipments to the U.S. have played a critical role in shipping growth. According to him, the recovery should continue throughout 2022. “In the year we should grow by another 5% compared to the base of 2021,” he predicts.
Destinations
In 2021 the main destination for Brazilian footwear abroad was the United States. In the year, Americans imported 15 million pairs for $228.57 million, an increase of 62.7% in volume and 66% in foreign currency compared to 2020.
The second international destination for Brazilian footwear of the year was Argentina. There 13.4 million pairs were shipped, which generated US$ 115.2 million, an increase in both volume (+73%) and revenues (+58.7%) compared to 2020.
The third destination abroad was France, where 7.27 million pairs were shipped for US$ 60.2 million, an increase of 3% and 1.7% respectively compared to 2020.
Producing States in Brazil
Last year the main Brazilian exporter was Rio Grande do Sul. Accounting for 45% of the value generated by shoe shipments, Rio Grande do Sul’s factories exported 32.75 million pairs, which generated $403.8 million, an increase of 48.7% in volume and 38% in turnover compared to 2020.
The second largest footwear exporter in 2021 was Ceará. In the year, 38.17 million pairs of shoes left the Ceará plants, generating 210 million US dollars, an increase of 15.8% in volume and 25.7% in turnover compared to 2020.
São Paulo appeared in third place among footwear exporters in 2021. In the year, the São Paulo plants exported 8.3 million pairs for US$ 94.6 million, an increase of 31% in volume and 41.7% in turnover compared to the previous year.
With slower growth, Paraíba was the fourth largest footwear exporter in 2021. In the year, 22.74 million pairs of pairs left the Paraíba plants, generating 57.7 million US dollars, with increases of 22% and 9.8% respectively compared to 2020.
Imports with an upward trend
In addition to exports, footwear imports ended the year higher. In December, Brazil imported 2.3 million pairs, for which $20 million was paid. The increases are 55.3% in volume and 5.4% in exchange rates compared to December 2020. In the 12-month period, imports amounted to 22.7 million pairs and 287 million US dollars, with an increase of 7.5% in volume and a 4.3% decrease in exchange rates compared to 2021.
The main origins of imported footwear continue to be Asian countries, with emphasis on China, which although not the main origin - behind Vietnam and Indonesia - was the country that recorded the largest increase in shipments of footwear to Brazil in December alone, when 1.53 million pairs were imported from Chinese factories, 294% more than in the same month of 2020. In the 12-month period, Chinese imports amounted to 9.8 million pairs and 36.67 million US dollars, 58.4% and 3%, respectively, compared to 2020. “In December, Chinese shoes entered Brazil at an average price of 3 US dollars, a clear indication of dumping – where export prices are different from those charged in the domestic market, a practice considered unfair by the World Trade Organization (WTO),” Ferreira said, adding that a process is underway for the renewal of the additional anti-dumping on Chinese footwear under consideration by the Chamber of Foreign Trade.
The main source of footwear imports in 2021 was Vietnam. In the year, 7.74 million pairs were imported from there for 149.5 million dollars, with a decrease of 20.7% in volume and 13.5% in turnover compared to 2020. The second origin of the year was Indonesia, from where 2.46 million pairs departed for Brazil for US$ 47 million, down 14.8% and 0.7% respectively compared to the 2020 numbers.
In components - uppers, heels, soles, insoles etc. - imports amounted to US$ 24 million, 25% more than in 2020. The main origins were Paraguay, China and Vietnam.
