This performance in February resulted in footwear exports for the first two months of the year of 20.53 million pairs with a total value of 162.9 million US dollars, 3.5% down in quantities and 10.8% higher in value if compared to similar period last year.

According to Heitor Klein, Executive President of Abicalçados, the Brazilian Shoe Manufacturers Association, although this represents a positive performance of the industry, if compared to similar period last year (+5%), it reflects a slowdown of the growth rhythm. Last January the Brazilian footwear sector increased exports by 17% (compared to similar period last year). One of the main reasons for this performance according to Mr. Klein is the US dollars’ devaluation.

Mr. Klein believes the projections for exports throughout the year are not positive:  "Contrary to last year, when we were experiencing a contraction of domestic demand for shoes while exports indicated a kind of safe harbor for the activity, in 2017 the seesaw was reversed. With an international policy influenced by controversial US President Donald Trump, his tendency to protectionism and the possibility of increasing US basic interest the exchange rate lost any predictability". So, based on the unpredictability of the American market, the main destination for Brazilian footwear, Abicalçados is not with high expectations for the current year and its exports performance.

Exports to the US in the period decreased by 13.5% in quantities and 1.4% in value. On the opposite direction sales of Brazilian footwear to Argentina-based customers reached a total of 928.5 thousand pairs which generated 15.74 million US dollars, higher numbers in volume (28.1%) and in dollars (64.6%). The third largest destination for Brazilian footwear in the period was France, which imported 1.7 million pairs worth 13.5 million US dollars, down in volume (-56.3%) and value (-13%) in comparison with the first two months of 2016.