Brazil footwear exports hit worst result since pandemic
Brazil’s footwear exports recorded their weakest performance since the Covid-19 pandemic in the first eight months of the year, pressured mainly by lower sales to the United States and Argentina.
Data compiled by the Brazilian Footwear Industries Association, known as Abicalçados, based on figures from Brazil’s Secretariat of Foreign Trade, Secex, show that Brazil shipped 62.45 million pairs of shoes abroad between January and August. The result was down 7.5% from the same period in 2025.
Export revenue reached $541.45 million, a 16.8% decline year on year.
In August alone, footwear exports totaled 7.13 million pairs and generated $70.8 million, down 6.6% in volume and 8.1% in revenue from August 2025. Both figures were the lowest since 2020, the year most affected by the pandemic.
Abicalçados Executive President Haroldo Ferreira said the downward trend is linked mainly to difficulties in exports to the United States and Argentina.
“In the year to date, the United States and Argentina account for a $111 million loss in exports compared with the same period last year,” Ferreira said.
According to Ferreira, efforts to diversify export destinations have not fully offset the losses in the United States and Argentina, the two main international markets for Brazilian footwear.
“In the United States, we are still feeling the effects of the tariff hike, while in Argentina there is a drop in consumption and an increasingly strong presence of footwear from Asia, driven by lower tariffs on products from outside Mercosur,” he said.
United States remains top destination in August
The United States was the main destination for Brazilian footwear exports in August. Brazil shipped 1.13 million pairs to the U.S. market during the month, generating $19.42 million.
The volume was 40.5% higher than in August 2025, but revenue fell 9.2%.
Ferreira said the average price of footwear shipped to the United States fell 35.4% in August, to $17.20 per pair. The decline was linked to a sharper reduction in higher-unit-value categories, especially leather shoes, as well as a change in the profile of sales to the market and a low comparison base in August last year.
From January to August, exports to the United States totaled 7.38 million pairs and $120.5 million, down 4.1% in volume and 22.8% in revenue from the same period in 2025.
Argentina ranked second among destinations in August. Brazil shipped 1.25 million pairs to the neighboring country, generating $11.5 million, with declines of 23% in volume and 37.6% in revenue from August 2025.
In the first eight months of the year, Argentina imported 4.52 million pairs of Brazilian shoes for $60.3 million, down 51.6% in volume and 55.6% in revenue year on year.
Paraguay completed the top three destinations. In August, Brazil exported 681,200 pairs to Paraguay for $5.2 million, down 22.3% in volume but up 21.1% in revenue from the same month last year.
From January to August, shipments to Paraguay totaled 5.4 million pairs and generated $31 million, down 9.4% in volume but up 12% in revenue compared with the same period in 2025.
Rio Grande do Sul leads among exporting states
Rio Grande do Sul remained Brazil’s largest footwear-exporting state. In August, factories in the southern state shipped 2.46 million pairs abroad, generating $34.95 million. The figures were down 14.7% in volume and 16.6% in revenue from August 2025.
In the year to August, footwear exports from Rio Grande do Sul totaled 22 million pairs and $269.54 million, up 3.2% in volume but down 14.4% in revenue from the same period last year.
Ceará ranked second among exporting states. In August, the northeastern state shipped 1.8 million pairs worth $12.55 million, down 1.9% in volume but up 24.8% in revenue year on year.
From January to August, Ceará exported 17.52 million pairs for $97.3 million, declines of 17.8% and 23.8%, respectively, from the same period of 2025.
São Paulo ranked third. In August, factories in the state exported 433,000 pairs, generating $6.73 million, down 28.7% in volume and 19.9% in revenue compared with August 2025.
In the year to August, São Paulo exported 3.9 million pairs for $55.5 million, declines of 17.6% in volume and 18.6% in revenue.
Asian imports keep pressure on Brazilian industry
Footwear imports, especially from Asia, continued to pressure domestic production.
Between January and August, Brazil imported 33 million pairs of shoes for $429.7 million, increases of 9.6% in volume and 11% in revenue compared with the same period in 2025.
China, Vietnam and Indonesia remained the main origins of footwear imported by Brazil, accounting for roughly eight out of every 10 pairs entering the country.
In the year to August, imports from China totaled 10.28 million pairs and $33.7 million, up 21.7% in volume and 8.1% in revenue year on year.
Vietnam ranked second, shipping 9.77 million pairs to Brazil for $214.37 million, increases of 2.1% in volume and 14.8% in revenue from the same period last year.
Indonesia completed the top three origins. In the first eight months, Brazil imported 5.42 million pairs from Indonesia for $97.12 million, down 13.5% in volume but up 1.4% in revenue.
Imports of footwear parts, including uppers, soles, heels and insoles, totaled $34.47 million in 2026 through August, up 16.7% from the same period last year. The main origins were China, Paraguay and Vietnam.
The figures show that footwear exports remain under pressure from weaker demand in key markets, tariff effects in the United States and stronger competition from Asian suppliers, while imports continue to gain ground in the domestic market.
Source: Abicalçados