Data from Abicalçados, the Brazilian Footwear Industries Association, shows that for 2021, Brazilian manufacturers will produce almost 100 million pairs more than in 2020. Of these, around 117.8 million pairs are expected to be shipped abroad, resulting in an increase in footwear exports of around 25.5%.

In August, 9.3 million pairs were exported, which generated 78 million US dollars. This figure indicates an increase in volume of 28.2% and an increase in value of 34.9%, as compared to the similar month last year. From January to August, 75.2 million pairs were exported, generating revenue of 541.34 million US dollars, having thus grown by 33.4% in volume and by 23.9% in value, on a comparable basis to similar period in 2020. Regarding the same period of 2019, the volume decreased only by 0.2%, and value of exports dropped by 16.7%, mainly driven by the exchange rate variation in the period

Haroldo Ferreira, Executive President of Abicalçados, has pointed out that there is an improvement in the dynamics of the Brazilian domestic market, but that the main focus is still the international scene, as it amounts to around 14% of the manufacturers’ sales. “Much of the growth in exports should come from the increase in shipments to the United States, the historical main destination for Brazilian footwear and which is increasingly looking for suppliers outside Asia”, explained Ferreira.

In the first eight months of the year, 9.13 million pairs were shipped to the United States, which generated revenue of 133.44 million US dollars. This corresponds to an increase of 55% in volume and 40% in value, as compared to the same period last year. The US were followed by Argentina and France. Brazil exported 7.76 million pairs to Argentina for 69.23 million US dollars, which translates into a growth of 84.4% in volume and 59.8% in value, and France bought 4.38 million pairs by 39.23 million US dollars, indicating an increase of 2.7% in both volume and value, on a comparable basis to 2020.

Brazil has one of the largest footwear industries in the world, characterized by its strong domestic footwear market. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the year 2020 was especially difficult for the sector. According to the Brazilian Footwear Industries Association, the national production of footwear fell to levels of 16 years ago and official statistics show that exports reached their lowest figure of the decade. Nevertheless, the World Footwear 2021 Yearbook (more information available here) shows that Brazil occupied the fifth position between the top 10 footwear producers (having produced 764 million pairs, which corresponds to a world share of 3.7%) and the top 10 footwear consumers (with 691 million pairs consumed and a world share of 3.6%).