Traditional leather centre loses its lead
Brazil’s southern-most Rio Grande do Sul has traditionally always produced and exported the largest volume of leather, however, following a 15% dip in exports last year, despite higher total exports, the region has now been knocked off the top of the list.
Having exported 74,700 tons of leather in 2006, according to the Association of Tanners of Rio Grande do Sul (AICSul), the state’s export figures dropped by a significant 15% to 63,800 tons in 2007, although in terms of value leather exports still improved 5% to $530 million, up from $507 million.
The percentage of the country’s leather produced in the state has also fallen dramatically, from approximately 50% in the past to a mere 24.2% last year, while São Paulo now accounts for 35.4% of total leather exports, Ceará (6.6%), Paraná (6.2%) and Mato Grosso do Sul (5.9%).
Total Brazilian leather exports for the year improved 17% to $2.19 billion, despite volumes falling 4% year-on-year.
