Brazil’s hides and skins export industry continues to show impressive growth, as revealed in the latest data published by the Secretariat of Foreign Trade (SECEX) and reported by the CICB/Brazilian Leather. The November 2024 export figures highlight robust performance in both volume and value, underscoring the sector’s resilience and global demand.
In November 2024, Brazil exported hides and skins worth $108.6 million, marking a 4.5% increase over October 2024 and a significant 21.6% jump compared to November 2023.
This growth was driven by substantial gains in both area and weight:
- 18.9 million square meters of hides were shipped, a 42% increase year-over-year.
- 59.8 thousand tons were exported, a 62.5% rise from the same period last year.
Between January and November 2024, exports reached $1.17 billion, representing a 14.2% increase from the same period in 2023. These figures also included a 23.9% growth in area and 40.8% growth in weight.
Key export destinations showcased varied trends:
- China (excluding Hong Kong) accounted for 31.8% of total export value and 42.8% of total area, with a 29.6% increase in value and a 38.7% rise in area year-on-year.
- Italy saw an upswing in imports, now representing 11.8% of export value and 13.4% of total area, with 9.2% growth in value and 9.1% in area.
- The United States, however, showed a decline, contributing 13.4% of export value and 6.7% of total area, with a 6% drop in value and a 4.5% decrease in area.
Vietnam emerged as a standout performer with an 88.2% growth in export value and a 91.9% rise in area year-to-date, though its pace slowed slightly in November.
Meanwhile, South Korea experienced the steepest decline, with -66.2% in value and -66.6% in area compared to the previous year.
The types of leather exported displayed contrasting trends:
- Wet blue leather now accounts for 29.7% of export value and 54.6% of total area, growing 36.1% in value and 38.5% in area year-over-year.
- Split WB leather showed a 38.7% increase in value and 28.8% growth in area, maintaining its share at 11.4% of export value.
- Finished leather, while still the largest contributor at 45.6% of export value, saw a slight 0.3% decline in value but a 3.7% rise in area.
Salted hides, though slowing in growth, maintained impressive year-to-date figures, with double the value and nearly triple the weight compared to last year.
Despite positive developments, European markets faced headwinds. Italy, although increasing imports, struggled with reduced activity in its tanning sector. Reports indicate that northern Italian tanneries experienced cancellations in automotive sector orders, forcing some companies to suspend operations or plan extended shutdowns during the holiday season.
You can find the detailed report prepared by the Brazilian Leather here
