As a result of the difficulties in footwear exports and the increase in the entry of foreign products into Brazil, the sector's trade balance fell 23% over the past year. Data prepared by the Brazilian Footwear Industries  Association (Abicalçados) indicate that, last year, exports in the sector totaled 118.34 million pairs and US$ 1.16 billion, drops of 16.6% in volume and 10.8% in revenue compared to 2022. In December alone, the drop was even greater. The registered figures indicate the export of 7.45 million pairs and US$ 73.44 million, decreases of 41.5% and 33.3%, respectively, compared to the corresponding month of 2022.

Abicalçados CEO Haroldo Ferreira points out that the downward movement was expected, especially in the face of the slowdown in the economies of the United States and Europe, with high interest rates and record inflation. “The United States, the main destination for Brazilian footwear abroad, pulled the numbers even lower. The drop for that market was three times greater, in proportion, than the drop in exports in general”, evaluates Ferreira. In addition to the slowdown in the global economy, the leader lists the resumption of Chinese production, which has increased international competition.

Destinations
The main destination of Brazilian footwear throughout 2023, the United States contributed to the drop in exports. Between January and December last year, 10.64 million pairs and US$ 227 million were shipped there, decreases in both volume (-40.4%) and revenue (-32%) compared to 2022.

Despite internal difficulties, especially with regard to the meager international reserves, Argentina was the second destination for Brazilian footwear last year. In the period, 14 million pairs and US$ 223.8 million were shipped there, a decrease of 11.8% in volume and an increase of 24.8% in revenue in relation to 2022.

Closing the ranking of destinations in 2023 appeared France. In the year, 2.84 million pairs were shipped to the country in the Old Continent for US$ 58.8 million, decreases of 53.5% and 10%, respectively, compared to 2022.

States
The largest footwear exporter in Brazil continued to be Rio Grande do Sul, from where 35.3 million pairs were exported for US$ 544.82 million, decreases in both volume (-17.5%) and revenue (-11.6%) compared to 2022.

Ceará appears in the second position among Brazilian footwear exporters. In 2023, 36.6 million pairs left the factories in Ceará for US$ 265.44 million, a decrease of 8.7% and 0.5%, respectively, compared to the previous year.

With drops of 28.4% in volume and 20.9% in revenue generated, São Paulo was the third main origin of footwear exports in the year. In the period, 7.58 million pairs and US$ 109.56 million left the São Paulo factories.

Imports grew by 20.6% in 2023
In the opposite direction to exports, footwear imports grew during the year. Between January and December, 28.36 million pairs entered Brazil for US$ 442.73 million, rises both in pairs (+9.8%) and in revenue (+20.6%) compared to 2022. The main origins remain being Asian countries. Vietnam, Indonesia and China alone accounted for more than 80% of the footwear that entered Brazil.

The main source of imports in the year was Vietnam (9.5 million pairs and US$ 213 million, increases of 15.6% and 21.4%, respectively, compared to 2022). This was followed by Indonesia (4.5 million pairs and US$ 87.5 million, up 45.8% and 42.2%) and China (9.46 million pairs and US$ 47.9 million, down 8.9% and 2.9%).

In footwear parts - uppers, insoles, heels, soles, etc. - imports for the year amounted to US$ 28.7 million, 5.2% less than in 2022. The main origins were China, Vietnam and Paraguay.