Brazil’s leather exports reach $1 billion
Brazilian leather exports totalled $1 billion during the first seven months of the year, rising 74% compared with the same period in 2009. Despite this, exports are still down 16% compared with the seven-month period in 2008, according to the Brazilian Tannery Association (CICB).
President of the association, Wolfgang Goerlich points out that while July exports reached $143 million in July, they were down 13.3% compared with June exports. He said that the decline reflected the slow recovery in the US and Europe, but also a decline in the competitiveness of the Brazilian leather sector. He predicts total exports for the year will reach the $1.7 billion target, but is expecting conditions during the second half of the year to be more difficult than during the first.
Should the sector reach its target, it will have achieved revenue growth of almost 50% compared with 2009 exports.
