As for the accumulated in the year, exports between January and September totaled 64.5 million pairs with a total value of 490 million US dollars, resulting in a decline of 24.4% in volume and 33.2% in revenue compared to similar period last year. As for accumulated imports they have reached 19.15 million pairs, for which 237.75 million US dollars were paid, down by 13.8% and by 17.7%, respectively, from similar period in 2019.

Haroldo Ferreira, Executive President of Abicalçados, points out that the Brazilian trade balance of footwear has already dropped 32% between January and September, in dollars. "There is a risk of imports gradually occupy the space of Brazilian footwear on the shelves", he warns. Specifically, on the drop in exports, Ferreira estimates that the new coronavirus pandemic, although with less force, continues to affect shipments, especially to the United States. Another factor that continues to negatively influence the exports performance is the crisis in Argentina, the second destination for Brazilian footwear, which has been restricting footwear imports through non-automatic licenses as a way to retain foreign exchange reserves. “It is a recurring problem and it gets worse as the crisis in the neighbouring country advances”, Haroldo Ferreira underlined. Companies have already reported to Abicalçados over 350 thousand pairs of Brazilian shoes retained for more than two months due to the delay in the release of import licenses.

Main Destinations

Between January and September, the main destination of Brazilian footwear abroad, the United States, imported 6.6 million pairs of shoes for 154.1 million US dollars, down by 27.3% and 30%, respectively, compared to the same period in 2019. The second destination was Argentina, where 5.13 million pairs were shipped, which generated 51.35 million US dollars, decreasing by 30% and 34.8%. France appeared in the third position and in the period, the French imported 5.17 million pairs for 43.3 million US dollars, a drop of 8% in volume and a 0.5% increase in revenue compared to the same period last year.