Rising footwear imports raise concern in Brazil’s Industry
Footwear imports have maintained a rapid pace in recent months, raising concerns for the Brazilian sector. In July alone, the country imported $66 million worth of footwear, the highest value in dollars since the beginning of the historical series in 1997.
According to the Brazilian Footwear Industry Association (Abicalçados), 4.2 million pairs of shoes were imported in July, representing a 98.5 percent increase compared to the same period last year, while revenue rose by 89.6 percent.
In the first seven months of 2025, imports totaled 26.58 million pairs, valued at $337.8 million, representing increases in both volume (+27.5%) and revenue (+30.5%) compared to the same period in 2024.
Exports down
At the same time, exports are declining. In July, more than 7.18 million units were shipped, totaling $76.74 million, representing a 7.3 percent decrease in volume and an 11.8 percent decrease in revenue compared to the same month last year.
In the first seven months of 2025, exports remained positive but at a decreasing pace. During this period, 59.88 million pairs were shipped abroad, an increase of 6.6 percent, generating $574 million in revenue, representing growth of 0.7 percent.
According to Abicalçados, the export slowdown is due to increased international competition, mainly because China has redirected its exports from the United States to other markets to avoid the US government’s surcharge. As a result, Brazilian exports to Europe and Latin America have been directly affected.
