According to the Brazilian Association of Footwear Manufacturers, Abicalçados, Brazilian footwear exports for the period January to September 2002 fell by 11%. Export turnover for the period was $1.1 million against $1.3 million for the same period of last year.

In September, exports dropped by 8% if compared to the Sept.ember 2001, when the turnover was $111 million and $121 million respectively. If compared to August 2002, with its $132 million turnover, September shows a drop of 16%.

Abicalçados says the drop in revenue is the direct result of certain factors: the fallow period between collections and seasons in the buying countries that normally takes place in July and August of each year; the retail sales slowdown in Brazil´s main export markets that has been ongoing since last year; the crisis in Argentina and the American threat to attack Iraq. The latter has prevented high volume deals in the region.

Despite the instability of international market, many Brazilian companies are currently searching for new markets, new potential customers or larger volumes from existing accounts, mainly in Europe and the Middle East.

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