Brazilian leather and hide exports in April totaled 15,946 million square meters, up 2,3% compared to the 15,589 million sold in the same month of 2015, the Center of the Brazilian Tanning Industry (CICB) reported in a note, based on data from the Foreign Trade Secretariat of the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade (MDIC).
Considering the first four months of this year, the footage sold was 8,7% higher than that recorded in the first four months of 2015. In reais, the value exported from January to April reached R$2,663 billion, 7,1% above the R$2,487 billion recorded in the same period last year.
As of April, CICB reports, the analysis of Brazilian leather and hide exports began to be presented in square meters and no longer in number of hides, as was the case until March, following the standard adopted worldwide for the disclosure of information of this kind by the International Council of Tanners (ICT), the main entity in the leather sector worldwide. The increase in exports in 2016 was especially in relation to higher value-added leathers, according to information from the executive president of CICB, José Fernando Bello, disclosed in the statement.
Foreign sales of semi-finished leather grew 114,2% from January to April compared to the same period in 2015, while sales of finished leather increased 16,4%. “These figures are the result of a major effort to promote sustainability, commercial relations and improve the country’s image among the more than 80 countries that purchase Brazilian leather,” said Bello.
He added that the actions of the Brazilian Leather project, an initiative of CICB and the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil) have proven to be decisive for the positive results. The exchange rate has also been a preponderant factor for the competitiveness of Brazilian products abroad, recalled the executive, for whom the return to the R$3,90 level is important.
Globo – 09/05/2016