The fourth month of the year brought positive news for the Brazilian footwear industry. According to data prepared by the Brazilian Footwear Industries Association (Abicalçados), based on figures from the Secretariat of Foreign Trade (Secex), 8.2 million pairs worth US$73.5 million were shipped in April, increases of 9% in volume and a decrease of 7.3% in revenue compared to the same month last year.

In the four-month period, exports totaled 34.5 million pairs and US$284.44 million, declines of 11.7% and 18.5%, respectively, compared to the same period in 2025.

Abicalçados’ Executive President, Haroldo Ferreira, highlights that April brought signs of a recovery in footwear exports to strategic markets, especially the United States and Latin American countries. “The increase in shipments to the United States indicates not only a recovery, but also an anticipation of exports to the destination following the tariff relief, since the additional 50% tariff is no longer being applied and Brazilian footwear is now competing under an equal 10% tariff rate,” he says.

According to the executive, the year-to-date figures still reflect the impacts of the first quarter, marked by the U.S. tariff shock, weaker momentum in traditional markets, and lower average prices associated with changes in the export mix by product and destination.

Another factor that boosted April’s export performance was shipments to Latin American countries. Excluding Argentina, exports to Latin American markets increased by 24.6% in value and 53% in volume compared to the same month last year.

Expectations
Given the improved outlook for exports, Ferreira highlights the potential of BFSHOW, the biggest footwear trade show in Latin America, taking place at the Distrito Anhembi venue in São Paulo/Brazil from May 18 to 20. “In this context, the trade show becomes even more important to help ensure the recovery of shipments starting in the second half of the year,” he says. More than 1,200 importers from the world’s leading markets are expected to attend the event.

Destination Ranking
In April, exports to the United States totaled 842.9 thousand pairs and generated US$14.72 million, increases of 16.5% and 40.5%, respectively, compared to the fourth month of last year. In the four-month period, exports to the market reached 3.8 million pairs and US$54.5 million, up 7.8% in volume and down 18.9% in revenue compared to the same period in 2025. “Despite the optimism surrounding the recovery in the United States, uncertainties remain regarding the developments of the Section 301 investigation involving Brazil,” comments Ferreira.

In April, shipments to Argentina totaled 474.82 thousand pairs and US$7.6 million, declines of 55.4% in volume and 55% in value compared to the corresponding month last year. “The drop in shipments to the destination remains the main negative factor affecting the sector’s foreign performance amid a context of weaker economic activity and pressured consumer spending,” evaluates the executive.

In the four-month period, exports to Argentina reached 2 million pairs and US$31.3 million, decreases of 56.7% and 59.8%, respectively, compared to the same period in 2025.

Ranking third among the main destinations was Ecuador, reflecting the stronger performance of exports to Latin American countries. In April, the country imported 868.5 thousand pairs for which US$6.64 million were paid, increases of 11.3% and 57.1%, respectively, compared to April last year.

In the four-month period, Ecuador imported 1.72 million pairs worth US$14.55 million, up 22.6% in volume and 24.5% in value compared to the same period in 2025.

States
Remaining Brazil’s leading footwear exporter, Rio Grande do Sul shipped 2.73 million pairs in April, generating US$36.95 million, declines of 6% in volume and 6.6% in revenue compared to the same month last year.

In the year-to-date period, exports from Rio Grande do Sul totaled 10.9 million pairs and US$142.73 million, down 4.9% in volume and 13.7% in value compared to the same period in 2025.

Brazil’s second-largest footwear exporter was Ceará. In April, factories in the state shipped 2.52 million pairs worth US$11.4 million, increases of 76% in volume and 5.6% in value compared to the same month in 2025.

In the four-month period, exports from Ceará totaled 10.68 million pairs and US$53.44 million, declines of 21.4% and 27.3%, respectively, compared to the same period last year.

Completing the ranking was São Paulo. In April, factories in the state shipped 585.47 thousand pairs worth US$8.8 million, a decline of 7.4% in volume and an increase of 0.1% in revenue compared to the corresponding month last year.

In the year-to-date period, exports from São Paulo totaled 1.88 million pairs and US$27.95 million, decreases of 21.1% and 18.1%, respectively, compared to the same period in 2025.