According to the Brazilian Footwear Industries Association (Abicalçados), last month the country imported 2.26 million pairs of shoes, worth 42.75 million US dollars, which reflects an increase of 62% in volume and 42% in value, as compared to August 2022. From January to August, Brazil purchased 21.18 million pairs for 316.53 million US dollars, up by 15% in volume and 35% in value, on a comparable basis to the same period of the previous year. The association warned that the largest share of imports comes from Asia, mainly Vietnam, Indonesia, and China.

“Today, 8 out of every 10 shoes that enter Brazil come from Asia”, emphasised Haroldo Ferreira, Executive President of Abicalçados. “This is a worrying scenario because these products are often sold at prices below those practised on the market, from an industry that doesn’t respect the conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) or the most basic concepts of sustainability. In addition to being an unfair competition for national footwear, these products generate environmental and human rights issues”, he concluded.

Origin destinations

In the first eight months of 2023, Brazil imported 6.9 million pairs of shoes from Vietnam, worth 154.5 million pairs of shoes. These figures reflect an increase of 36.6% in volume and 45.5% in value, as compared to the same period of last year.

Indonesia ranked second, as the South American country purchased 3 million pairs of shoes for 59.6 million US dollars between January and August, up by 50.5% in volume and 48% in value from a similar period of 2022. Next, came China, which sold 8.13 million pairs of shoes, worth 36.15 million US dollars, down by 5.4% in volume and up by 3% in value year-over-year.