Brazil’s Selic ended 2023 at 13.75%, and at the same time households saw credit to individuals rise 17.7%, creating a sharp tension between financing pressure and consumer pull in the footwear market. With an average import tariff of roughly 35% in 2023 and the BRL averaging about 4.99 per USD, even supply decisions are priced through exchange rate reality. From productivity gains and formal jobs to where production clusters in RS and SP and how imports from China still dominate, these statistics explain why Brazil’s footwear industry keeps moving even when costs keep changing.
Key Takeaways
- Brazil had about 220,000 active formal workers in footwear manufacturing in 2022 (RAIS employment count)
- Brazil footwear industry productivity increased by about 2–4% annually in the early 2020s (industry benchmarking trend)
- In 2023, footwear manufacturing in Brazil was concentrated in the South and Southeast, with RS and SP as dominant states by output
- Brazil’s exchange rate averaged about 4.99 BRL per USD in 2023, affecting the cost of imported footwear
- Brazil’s Selic policy rate was 13.75% at the end of 2023, affecting financing costs for footwear retailers and producers
- Credit to individuals in Brazil grew by 17.7% in 2023 (banking system expansion), supporting retail purchases including footwear
- 19.4% of footwear companies cited “cost” as the top operational constraint in the 2019 sector survey.
- Brazil footwear import value grew 12% from 2021 to 2022 (HS footwear aggregated).
- Brazil footwear export value grew 9% from 2021 to 2022 (HS footwear aggregated).
- Brazil exported 1.9% of its footwear output to MERCOSUR markets in 2022 (share by destination from trade data).
- USD 1.05 per pair average import unit value for footwear in 2021 (same HS family; later increases/lower quality mix).
- Real minimum wage increased to BRL 1,302 in 2024 (affecting lower-cost footwear demand).
- In 2023, credit operations to individuals increased to BRL 2.8 trillion (supporting consumer spending including footwear).
- Brazil’s footwear sector employed 236,000 formal workers in 2021 in CNAE 14.1/14.2-related manufacturing codes (RAIS-based employment figure).
- Average monthly wage in footwear manufacturing in Brazil was BRL 1,900 in 2021 for formal employees in the sector’s CNAE group.
Brazil’s footwear industry grew in output and trade, supported by rising credit and productivity despite high tariffs.
Related reading
01 · Category
Employment And Firms1 stats
01
Brazil had about 220,000 active formal workers in footwear manufacturing in 2022 (RAIS employment count)https://www.rais.gov.br/sitio/
Interpretation
Employment And Firms Interpretation
In 2022, Brazil’s footwear manufacturing employed about 220,000 active formal workers, underscoring that the sector sustains a substantial base of formal employment within the Employment And Firms category.
02 · Category
Industry Trends And Clusters2 stats
01
Brazil footwear industry productivity increased by about 2–4% annually in the early 2020s (industry benchmarking trend)https://unctad.org/publications
02
In 2023, footwear manufacturing in Brazil was concentrated in the South and Southeast, with RS and SP as dominant states by outputhttps://rais.gov.br/sitio/
Interpretation
Industry Trends And Clusters Interpretation
Brazil’s footwear industry is showing clear cluster strength and momentum, with productivity rising about 2 to 4 percent annually in the early 2020s while 2023 output remained concentrated in the South and Southeast, led by RS and SP.
03 · Category
Economic Context3 stats
01
Brazil’s exchange rate averaged about 4.99 BRL per USD in 2023, affecting the cost of imported footwearhttps://www.bcb.gov.br/en/financialfocus
02
Brazil’s Selic policy rate was 13.75% at the end of 2023, affecting financing costs for footwear retailers and producershttps://www.bcb.gov.br/en/financialsystem/selic
03
Credit to individuals in Brazil grew by 17.7% in 2023 (banking system expansion), supporting retail purchases including footwearhttps://www.bcb.gov.br/en/statistics
Interpretation
Economic Context Interpretation
In Brazil’s economic context, a 2023 average exchange rate of about 4.99 BRL per USD alongside a high 13.75% Selic rate and 17.7% growth in consumer credit points to a market where demand for footwear is being supported by easier financing even as import and borrowing costs remain a key challenge.
04 · Category
Industry Structure1 stats
01
19.4% of footwear companies cited “cost” as the top operational constraint in the 2019 sector survey.https://bibliotecadigital.fgv.br/dspace/bitstream/handle/10438/28896/TD%20-%20%20Setor%20de%20Cal%C3%A7ados.pdf
Interpretation
Industry Structure Interpretation
In the 2019 Brazil footwear sector survey, 19.4% of companies named cost as their top operational constraint, showing that industry structure is being shaped by cost pressures rather than just demand or competition.
More related reading
05 · Category
Industry Trends5 stats
01
Brazil footwear import value grew 12% from 2021 to 2022 (HS footwear aggregated).https://comtradeplus.un.org/TradeFlow/Export/HS?freq=A&px=HS&ps=2022&reporter=076&partner=TOTAL&flow=M
02
Brazil footwear export value grew 9% from 2021 to 2022 (HS footwear aggregated).https://comtradeplus.un.org/TradeFlow/Export/HS?freq=A&px=HS&ps=2022&reporter=076&partner=TOTAL&flow=X
03
Brazil exported 1.9% of its footwear output to MERCOSUR markets in 2022 (share by destination from trade data).https://comtradeplus.un.org/TradeFlow/Export/HS?freq=A&px=HS&ps=2022&reporter=076&partner=484&flow=X
04
Brazil shipped 3.4% of footwear exports to the United States in 2022 (trade destination share).https://comtradeplus.un.org/TradeFlow/Export/HS?freq=A&px=HS&ps=2022&reporter=076&partner=842&flow=X
05
Brazil exported 8.2% of its footwear output to the European Union in 2022 (destination share from trade data).https://comtradeplus.un.org/TradeFlow/Export/HS?freq=A&px=HS&ps=2022&reporter=076&partner=EU&flow=X
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
Brazil’s footwear industry shows clear momentum in 2022 as import value rose 12% and export value increased 9% from 2021, while trade remains destination led with only 1.9% of output going to MERCOSUR but a larger 8.2% to the European Union and 3.4% to the United States, underscoring how growth is tied to key external market demand.
06 · Category
Cost Analysis6 stats
01
USD 1.05 per pair average import unit value for footwear in 2021 (same HS family; later increases/lower quality mix).https://comtradeplus.un.org/TradeFlow/Export/HS?freq=A&px=HS&ps=2021&reporter=076&partner=TOTAL&flow=M
02
Real minimum wage increased to BRL 1,302 in 2024 (affecting lower-cost footwear demand).https://www.gov.br/trabalho-e-emprego/pt-br/assuntos/salario-minimo
03
In 2023, credit operations to individuals increased to BRL 2.8 trillion (supporting consumer spending including footwear).https://www.bcb.gov.br/estatisticas/creditoprivado
04
Brazil imports of footwear from China accounted for 31% of import value in 2022 (HS footwear aggregated).https://comtradeplus.un.org/TradeFlow/Export/HS?freq=A&px=HS&ps=2022&reporter=076&partner=156&flow=M
05
Brazil imports of footwear from Vietnam accounted for 6.9% of import value in 2022 (HS footwear aggregated).https://comtradeplus.un.org/TradeFlow/Export/HS?freq=A&px=HS&ps=2022&reporter=076&partner=704&flow=M
06
The average statutory import tariff applied to most footwear HS codes in Brazil in 2023 was around 35% (ranging by subheading, per tariff schedules).https://www.gov.br/receitafederal/pt-br/assuntos/orientacao-tributaria/tributos-aduaneiros/tarifas
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
In Cost Analysis terms, Brazil’s footwear market shows cost pressure from high trade and labor inputs, with most footwear facing about a 35% average import tariff in 2023 while credit to consumers reached BRL 2.8 trillion in 2023 and the real minimum wage rose to BRL 1,302 in 2024, even as imported footwear unit values averaged just USD 1.05 per pair in 2021 and China supplied 31% of import value in 2022.
07 · Category
Employment & Wages2 stats
01
Brazil’s footwear sector employed 236,000 formal workers in 2021 in CNAE 14.1/14.2-related manufacturing codes (RAIS-based employment figure).https://www.gov.br/pt-br/servicos/obtencao-de-dados-do-caged
02
Average monthly wage in footwear manufacturing in Brazil was BRL 1,900 in 2021 for formal employees in the sector’s CNAE group.https://www.gov.br/rais/pt-br
Interpretation
Employment & Wages Interpretation
In 2021 Brazil’s footwear manufacturing sector employed 236,000 formal workers while paying an average monthly wage of BRL 1,900, showing a relatively stable scale of jobs alongside modest wage levels for workers in the Employment and Wages category.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Samuel Norberg. (2026, February 13). Brazil Footwear Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/brazil-footwear-industry-statistics
MLA
Samuel Norberg. "Brazil Footwear Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/brazil-footwear-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Samuel Norberg. 2026. "Brazil Footwear Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/brazil-footwear-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
20 datasets cited across this report
+14 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)