Volume increase in Brazilian leather exports in 2023
The country’s exports of hides and skins “showed growth in area and weight in 2023”, according to the Centre for the Brazilian Tanning Industry (CICB). Looking at the year as a whole, 158.9 million square metres, up by 13.0%, were sent abroad, the equivalent of 430.6 thousand tonnes, up by 21.5%, on a comparable basis to 2022. In value terms, however, these figures represent a decrease of 8.3% over the previous year to 1.1 billion US dollars.
The data also indicates that 81 countries purchased Brazilian leather in 2023, with China and Hong Kong at the forefront (31.5% share), followed by the US (16.0%) and Italy (12.1%). CICB also reported that the share of total exports by type of leather last year was: finished 51.9%, crust 12.4%, wet blue 25.4%, split wet blue 9.3% and salted leather 1.1%.
“With falling prices around the world, we had an additional production overload to try to compensate for possible losses, maintaining industrial units with great delivery capacity and volume results,” commented Rogério Cunha, from CICB's Trade Intelligence. “Geopolitical conflicts and the subsequent resumption of normal activities after the pandemic in China (the main market for leather in Brazil) have an influence on the country's figures”, he added.
For 2024, the association highlighted the sector’s goal to invest in sustainability. “The purpose of all tanneries in Brazil is to value leather and, more especially, to look deeply into sustainability. There are many projects underway with joint efforts throughout the tannery supply chain to improve processes and compliance, and this will be the focus of this year”, concluded Rogério Cunha.
Source and Image Credits: cicb.org.br