The performance of the footwear industry in March followed the good results registered in February. In March total exports reached 91.14 million US dollars, up by 16.6% from the previous month and with a 15.1% growth compared to similar month in 2014 (79.2 million US dollars).

During the first three months of the year, a total of 31.67 million pairs were exported with a value of 241.56 million US dollars. Despite the recovery in exports in February and March, the total amount for the quarter is still 12% below the amount registered in the first quarter in 2014 (274.6 million US dollars).

Heitor Klein, Executive President of Abicalçados, points out that the impacts of a strong  dollar wasn’t reflected in exports yet, which brings better prospects for the rest of the year. "The recovery is the result of businesses efforts in search of international markets and also the recovery of the world economy, and cannot be attributed alone to the high dollar, because this effect will be felt more strongly from May or June", he stated.

The United States are the main destination for exported Brazilian shoes. In the first quarter of the year, Americans bought 3.16 million pairs and paid 41.53 million US dollars, down 5.3% from similar period in 2014. France, the second destination, consumed 3.85 million pairs for which disbursed 16.86 million US dollars, 12.2% down from similar period last year. Argentina imported 6.6 million US dollars' worth of Brazilian shoes, an increase of 85.2% compared to March 2014. In Mr Klein's view, the positive result of exports to Argentina is already reflecting the recent decision of the World Trade Organization (WTO) requires the neighboring country to eliminate illegal barriers to imports: "Our problem there - in Argentina - was never a shortage of demand but the protectionism that should be eliminated," he declared.

Encouraging news for Brazil have also been announced by its Department of Foreign Trade from the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade (MDIC), who confirmed an increase in leather and skin exports  in March. During the third month of 2015, sales from the Brazilian leather sector to foreign markets have reached 255 million US dollars. The number represents an increase of 1.0% in comparison to the same month last year, when exports reached a total value of 252.556 million US dollars.