The rising domestic demand for footwear fueled the industry’s production growth in 2024. Data compiled by the Brazilian Footwear Industries Association (Abicalçados), based on IBGE indexes, show that production grew by 3.5% compared to 2023. In total, 896.8 million pairs were produced, with 97.4 million destined for export.
Abicalçados’ executive president, Haroldo Ferreira, explains that production growth could have been even higher if not for the surge in imported footwear, particularly from Asia. Last year, imports increased by 26% compared to 2023, with about 90% of these imports coming from Asian countries, mainly Vietnam, China, and Indonesia. “Today, over 85% of our production is absorbed by the domestic market, which remained strong throughout 2024, with apparent consumption growing by 7.7%. However, a significant share of this positive domestic performance was captured by imports,” says Ferreira.
Close to Pre-Pandemic Levels
The 896.8 million pairs produced in 2024 nearly matched the volume recorded before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019, when production reached 898.8 million pairs—just 0.2% higher than last year. Looking ahead to 2025, despite ongoing challenges, particularly in the international market, the sector is expected to recover losses caused by the global pandemic crisis. “2025 will be a challenging year, but we remain optimistic. In May, with BFSHOW—the largest footwear trade show in Latin America, held in São Paulo—we will have a clearer gauge of market trends,” Ferreira projects.
BFSHOW
BFSHOW is set to host more than 350 Brazilian footwear brands, welcoming retailers and importers from around the world. Taking place from May 19 to 21 at Distrito Anhembi in São Paulo, the event will showcase Summer collections, which account for over 70% of the domestic footwear industry's sales. More information is available at www.bfshow.com.br. www.bfshow.com.br.
