Over 1,200 visits from importers go along with the sector’s strategy to win back the foreign market.
Dollar favoring export activities, economic recovery of important markets such as the USA and implementation of the National Export Plan by the Federal Government. All these factors plus the setback in the national retail market in the first half-year make the Brazilian footwear industry see the foreign market as the best way out of the current period of instability.
The 47th edition of FRANCAL – International Shoe and Accessories Fashion Fair, ended on the 9th of July in São Paulo, attempted to meet this demand from the sector and held several actions to call the attention of foreign visitors. Result: 1,205 importers from 64 countries came to the fair to make business with Brazilian manufacturers.
Chairman of FRANCAL, Abdala Jamil Abdala remembers that, in the end of 2014, the market started to show a need to focus on the foreign market, which caused the Brazilian fair to arrange for the accommodation of some of these importers and increase promotion in important communities of the European continent. “Our strategy has proven to be effective and brought a good result, with businesses made with exhibitors of all sizes”, he says.
Recovery
The month of June showed the first signs of recovery for Brazilian shoes export activities. 8.25 million pairs were shipped, generating USD 78.5 million – which accounts for an increase of 4.2% in dollars as compared to the same month in 2014.
To the CEO of Abicalçados, Heitor Klein, the result shows a gradual improvement in the number of shipments and is expected to be more evident during the second half-year, with the participation of Brazilian companies in the GDS (Germany), theMicam (Italy), and FN Platform (USA) international fairs.
“We at Francal have a good feeling about the foreign market”, Klein says. According to him, the strong dollar and guarantee measures for the funding of export activities, the streamlining of processes, and the maintenance of the Reintegra [Special Regime for the Reinstatement of Taxes for Exporters] represent a new horizon for exporters. “Based on the consecutive decreases earlier this year, we do not expect an increase before December, but a recovery in the second half-year could make us reach at least the same result as last year (USD 1 billion) ”, he estimates.
Press release
Sâmia Hannouche
July/2015