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Brazilian footwear industry eyes recovery despite growing trade pressures

Nov 28, 2024 Brazil

The Brazilian footwear industry is expected to surpass pre-pandemic production levels in 2025. However, rising low-cost competition from imports poses challenges to local manufacturers

The Brazilian footwear industry is poised for growth in 2024 and 2025, with production projected to surpass pre-pandemic levels. According to Haroldo Ferreira, Executive President of the Brazilian Footwear Industries Association (Abicalçados), domestic demand is set to drive this recovery.

In 2024, production is estimated to grow by up to 3.2% compared to 2023. For 2025, production is expected to rise further, reaching up to 904 million pairs and surpassing 2019’s pre-pandemic figure of 898 million pairs.

Despite these optimistic forecasts, the industry faces significant hurdles, mainly from increasing imports and declining exports. Export volumes are projected to decrease by up to 19.2% in 2024 compared to the previous year. In contrast, imports are expected to grow by over 20%, with Asian countries accounting for around 80% of the imported footwear.

Abicalçados is advocating for strengthened anti-dumping measures to address this influx of low-cost imports, which has heightened competition, and Ferreira characterised as predatory and damaging to local manufacturers.

Currently, Chinese footwear entering Brazil is subject to a surcharge of 10.22 US dollars per pair, but Ferreira noted that production is increasingly shifting to neighbouring countries with lower labour costs. Abicalçados is working to extend the tariff to include Vietnam and Indonesia and mitigate the impact of these imports on domestic producers.

Image Credits: traveloffpath.com

Brazil Exports Footwear Imports International Trade Organisations Production Tariffs