Brazil’s exports of hides and skins ended 2024 with a positive balance in exports, achieving growth both in numbers and in key advancements in technology, compliance, and sustainability demands. Total exports reached USD 1.26 billion, representing a 12.5% increase compared to 2023. In square meters, the growth was even more significant: a 22.3% rise from the previous year. In weight, the total exported was 38.8% higher in tons. The promotion of Brazil’s leather exports is supported by Brazilian Leather, a project of CICB (the Centre for the Brazilian Tanning Industry) in partnership with the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil).

According to José Fernando Bello, Executive President of CICB, these figures must be celebrated by the sector, but the most significant advancements of 2024 extend beyond statistics, involving the operational dynamics of Brazil’s leather value chain. “This year has been crucial for us. We worked relentlessly on issues such as compliance, traceability, and customs barriers, achieving results that set the stage for further growth in 2025,” says Bello. He highlighted key achievements facilitated by CICB’s active participation: the creation of the CICB Raw Material Guide (a step-by-step manual on obtaining traceable raw material data within Brazil), the Federal Government’s launch of the National Plan for Individual Identification of Cattle and Buffaloes, and Vietnam’s removal of the sanitary certificate requirement for Brazilian wet blue leather.

In terms of market analysis, the 2024 export panorama offers valuable insights for the years ahead. Significant growth in Vietnam (+69.8% in value compared to 2023, solidifying its position as the fourth-largest destination) and Mexico (+26.3%, now the fifth-largest importer) reflects the growing trend toward market diversification in production and manufacturing. Brazil’s largest client, China, also showed notable growth in the final results: +26.9% in value (or +20.8% when including Hong Kong).
Looking ahead to 2025, Bello reaffirms the leather sector’s commitment to new technologies and processes that enhance sustainability while meeting client demands and international regulations. “We are always attentive to market demands and future trends. Special attention should be given to life cycle assessments, which are increasingly important to leather clients, already impacting the supply chain and material requirements,” he states. On this topic, CICB will organize the CICB Sustainability Forum on March 19 during Fimec, with the central theme of “Life Cycle Assessment in the Leather Industry.”