Leather exports from Brazil totaled US$ 104.41 million in January, representing growth of 42% in comparison with the same month of last year. Volume-wise, shipments grew by 21% using the same basis of comparison.
The figures were supplied by the Confederation of Brazilian Hides and Skins Industries (CICB).
One of the countries whose imports of the Brazilian product increased the most is Tunisia, to which sales were 48.5 times greater and totaled US$ 566,450.
The leading target markets were Italy, with US$ 27.94 million (26.77% share and growth of 34% compared with the same month of 2009); China, with US$ 23.25 million (22.27% share and 55% growth); the United States, with US$ 10.43 million (10% share and 130% growth); and Hong Kong, with US$ 9.25 million (8.87% share and 12% decline).
According to the CICB’s forecasts for this year, exports should reach US$ 1.4 billion, representing growth of 27% over 2009. According to the president of the organization, Wolfgang Goerlich, the figure is still lower than sales in 2007, which totaled US$ 2.2 billion.
In order to boost Brazilian leather, the CICB, in partnership with the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex), promotes the Brazilian Leather program, which supports the participation of companies in international trade fairs.
According to Goerlich, foreign actions are important to help revert the scenario of decline that the industry experienced last year, when sales totaled US$ 1.16 billion, as against US$ 1.88 billion in 2008.
