The Brazilian exports of hides and skins showed growth in area and weight in 2023. They were up 13.0% in square meters and 21.5% in tons compared to the 2022 balance, according to official data analyzed by the Centre for the Brazilian Tanning Industry (CICB). Throughout 2023, 81 countries purchased Brazilian leather.

Considering the whole year, 158.9 million square meters were sent abroad, which is equivalent to 430.6 thousand tons. In values, these numbers represented US$ 1.1 billion in 2023 (down 8.3% compared to 2022). The participation by type of leather in total exports last year was: finished 51.9%, crust 12.4%, wet blue 25.4%, split wet blue 9.3% and salted leather 1.1%. The main importers were: China and Hong Kong (31.5% share), the United States (16.0%) and Italy (12.1%).

According to the analysis of Rogério Cunha, from CICB’s Trade Intelligence, the closing of 2023 for Brazilian leather exports reflects a year of hard work in the sector. “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,” he says. 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.

For 2024, the entity projects a year of challenges and a lot of investment 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”, says Rogério.