Europe drives growth in Brazilian footwear

In 2026, Brazil's footwear industry continued to grapple with the impact of U.S. tariffs imposed in 2025, which led to a decline in exports to the United States and Argentina. However, the country's footwear exports to other international markets, excluding Argentina and the U.S., grew by 3.8% from January to October compared to the same period in the previous year.

At a press conference during BFSHOW, the largest footwear trade show in Latin America, Haroldo Ferreira, executive president of the Brazilian Footwear and Leather Goods Industry Association (Abicalçados), highlighted the importance of diversifying markets, focusing on Europe, Colombia, Chile, and Uruguay, which contributed to a 36.3% increase in exports to European countries and 35.5% in volume.

Márcia Nejaim, head of the Southeast office of ApexBrasil, emphasized the significance of market diversification, stating that it is essential to generate new revenue due to the cyclical nature of Brazil's domestic market. Nadja Bento, COO of NürnbergMesse Brasil, noted the success of BFSHOW, reporting that around 850 domestic and international buyers participated in the event.

Despite a 6.2% and 13.5% decrease in total exports and footwear exports compared to the same period last year, Ferreira remains optimistic about the sector's growth prospects in 2027, anticipating a growth of over 2.6% if the U.S. tariff issue is resolved. Arab markets, including Dubai, are also strategic for the Brazilian footwear industry, with the region's fashion hub status and similarity to Brazil creating no need for adaptations.