Trade

Brazilian exports end 2025 on stable ground as imports continue to rise

Jan 22, 2026 Brazil

Despite the negative impact of US tariffs on Brazilian footwear exports, the industry ended 2025 broadly stable, according to Abicalçados. Meanwhile, imports continue to rise

According to the latest data compiled by the Brazilian Footwear Industries Association (Abicalçados), based on figures from Secex, the country exported 103.94 million pairs of shoes in 2025, worth 958.2 million US dollars. This represents a 6.7% increase in volume and a 1.8% decrease in value, as compared to the previous year.

In December alone, Brazil shipped 9.74 million pairs of shoes, worth 72.9 million US dollars – an increase of 24.4% in volume and 0.8% in value, on a comparable basis to the same month of 2024. Still, this is an improvement on November, when the industry recorded a year-on-year 17.7% decrease in volume and a year-on-year 13.3% decrease in value.

Abicalçados CEO Haroldo Ferreira highlighted the weigh of the US tariff – a 50% levy on Brazilian footwear imported into the North American country since August 2025 – as a determining factor in the poor performance of exports.

The US, its main destination market, imported 10.2 million pairs of yellow and green footwear for 211.9 million US dollars last year, reflecting a 1% fall in volume and a 2% fall in value compared to 2024. Exports to Argentina also fell year-on-year by 8.6% in volume to 13.68 million pairs and by 11% in value 179.55 million US dollars.

According to Haroldo Ferreira, “the outcome could have been worse if it were not for increased shipments to countries such as Spain, Paraguay and Ecuador after the tariff was introduced”, despite the lower average value of products. Compared to 2024, the average price of footwear shipped by Brazil fell by 8% to 9.20 US dollars per pair in 2025.

At the same time, the country imported 43.2 million pairs of shoes, valued at 585 million US dollars, last year. This reflects a 20.6% increase in volume and a 22.5% increase in value, on a comparable basis to 2024. Imports surged by 12% and 33.6% year-on-year in December alone, reaching 3.58 million pairs of shoes and 56.98 million US dollars respectively. Vietnam, China and Indonesia were the main suppliers of footwear to Brazil.

Brazilian Footwear Industry

Brazil is home to one of the world’s largest footwear industries, according to the World Footwear 2025 Yearbook (more information available HERE). Production finally rebounded to pre-pandemic levels in 2024. However, exports fell by 17%, while imports increased by 26%, highlighting the industry’s strong focus on the domestic market.

Image Credits: Davi Costa on Unsplash

Brazil Exports Footwear Imports International Trade