$3.3 billion of business generated at Couromoda
According to post show reports this year’s Couromoda leathergoods and footwear trade fair, held in São Paulo last week, generated a staggering 6 billion reais-worth ($3.3 billion) of business — 11% higher than last year.
Some 1,100 exhibitors participated in the four-day event, which attracted more than 77,000 visitors from 75 different countries.
This bodes well for the future of the leather industry in Brazil which, according to new figures released by the Confederation of Brazilian Hides and Skins Industries (CICB), saw exports rise 17% in 2007 to reach $2.19 billion, up from $1.87 billion in 2006.
As with the footwear industry, Brazil’s leather sector is maintaining export growth by focusing on value-added goods rather than raw hides. Shipments of semi-finished and finished products represented 67% of total export revenue in 2007, versus 64% in 2006.
