Brazil’s leather industry exported hides and skins worth $94.9 million in March 2026, as shipments increased in volume but declined in value, reflecting weaker global demand and price pressure, according to SECEX data analysed by Brazilian leather industry association CICB.
Brazil’s leather industry, a key part of the global leather trade, saw exports fall 7.8% year-on-year and 1.8% month-on-month from $96.6 million in February.
Exports reached 16.8 million square meters and 58.7 thousand tons, up 3.4% and 4.0% compared to March 2025. However, both area and weight fell compared to February by 2.8% and 4.2%.
By product type, March 2026 showed mixed movement compared to February 2026:
Salted hides declined 9.3% to $5.67 million.
Wet blue exports fell 8.6% to $26.24 million.
Split wet blue grew 13.4% to $11.74 million.
Crust leather dropped 12.2% to $10.47 million.
Finished leather, the largest segment, rose 2.7% to $39.48 million.
For the full quarter from January to March 2026:
Brazil’s total leather exports for the first quarter of 2026 stood at $262.8 million, down 10.7% compared to the same period last year.
Salted hides exports totaled $17.66 million, up 50.8% when compared to the first quarter of 2025
Wet blue exports reached $78.46 million, down 5.3%
Split wet blue exports were $27.85 million, down 13.9%
Crust leather exports reached $27.45 million, down 4.3%
Finished leather exports were $111.43 million, down 19.7% when compared to the first quarter last year
China remained the top market with 31.8% share in value and 47.6% in area, though exports fell 9.5%. China plus Hong Kong together accounted for $88.37 million.
The United States dropped 25.2% to $28.9 million and Italy fell 31.5% to $27.4 million in the first quarter.
Among other top export markets for Brazilian hides and skins, Vietnam stood at the 4th place with $26.71 million, Mexico $16.23 million, Nigeria $11.50 million, South Korea $7.68 million, Germany $5.12 million, Thailand $4.74 million and Spain $4.11 million. India ranked 16th with $2.39 million.
South Korea stood out with strong growth of 71.6% in value and 73.9% in area.
Also Read: Brazil Leather Exports Reach $96.6 Million in February Up 27.9% from January 2026
Overall if you see, In general, the data point to a retraction in Brazilian exports of bovine leather at almost all stages, reflecting weaker international demand.
Wet blue remains dominant in volume, but with a loss of share and falls, while wet blue split remains pressured. The crust shows a slight recovery in terms of area, but still with a reduction in value.
Finished leather, the main segment in value, concentrates the biggest drops, indicating greater sensitivity to final consumption.
Hair-on hides exports increased in March compared to January and February but remained below 2025 levels.
To conclude, The data shows Brazil’s leather sector is going through a phase where export volumes are rising but earnings are falling.
Even though exports grew 3.4% in area and 4.0% in weight compared to March 2025, total revenue dropped 7.8% to $94.9 million. This clearly shows pressure on global prices and a decline in the value of leather in international markets.
