Footwear exports continue to increase. Data prepared by the Brazilian Footwear Industries Association (Abicalçados) indicates that 86.2 million pairs were shipped between January and September. They generated USD 618.45 million, increases of 33.7% in volume and 26.3% in revenue in relation to the same period last year. Comparing with pre-pandemic levels, in 2019, the results are 1% higher in pairs and 15.7% lower in revenue. According to Abicalçados, with the rise of the dollar, footwear manufacturers are able to set more competitive prices while maintaining profitability in real. 

Considering the month of September alone, exports totaled 11 million pairs, which generated USD 77 million, increases of 35.7% and 46%, respectively, compared to figures referring to the same month last year. Compared to September 2019, there was an increase in volume (+10%) and a decrease (-8%) in revenue. 

Abicalçados' executive president, Haroldo Ferreira, highlights that foreign markets – especially the United States – have been stimulating the recovery of the footwear industry. "We expect that at the end of the year results will be 25% better than last year, even surpassing the pre-pandemic numbers in 2019," he foresees, noting that the levels of the second semester have been lower due to the stronger basis of comparison of the second part of 2020, when the industry was already showing signs of a more consistent recovery in the international market. Abicalçados estimates the year will end with a total of 118 million pairs shipped.  

Destinations
The main destination for Brazilian shoes abroad is still the United States, which imported 10 million pairs between January and September, generating USD 153 million, increases both in volume (+52.7%) and in revenue (+41.7%) compared to the same period last year. “Furthermore, exports to the United States, in 2021, have already surpassed the pre-pandemic level. Compared to the same period in 2019, exports in pairs grew by 11%,” Ferreira celebrates. 

Between January and September, the second destination for Brazilian shoes was Argentina, which exported 9.2 million pairs for USD 80.6 million, increases both in volume (+79.7%) and in revenue (+57 %) compared to the same period last year. Like the United States, the levels of exports to Argentina have already surpassed those of 2019, by 26%. 

The third destination for the Brazilian product in the nine months of the year was France. During the period, the French imported 5.3 million pairs, for which USD 42.63 million were paid, an increase of 3% in volume and a decrease of 1.5% in revenue compared to the corresponding period in 2020. 

Rio Grande do Sul: largest footwear exporter
Accounting for 44% of the total amount generated with footwear exports, the state of Rio Grande do Sul is still the main exporter in the industry. Between January and September, factories in Rio Grande do Sul shipped 22 million pairs, generating USD 272.24 million, increases both in volume (+41%) and in revenue (+22.5%) compared to the same period last year. 

The second largest exporter during the period was the state of Ceará. During the nine months, factories in the state shipped 26.33 million pairs, for which USD 147.53 million were paid, increases both in volume (+24.2%) and in revenue (+22.3%) compared to the corresponding period in 2020. 

With increases of 33.2% in volume and 32% in revenue, the third exporter of shoes in Brazil, in the nine months of the year, was São Paulo. Six million pairs left companies in the state, generating USD 65.25 million.