Brazilian Leather: Over $25 Million in Business Prospects Following Trade Fairs in Vietnam and the United States

The Brazilian leather industry had an intense month of international activity in July, with significant participation in the Shoes and Leather Vietnam fair (in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam) and Lineapelle New York (in New York, USA). Business prospects amounting to $25.45 million are anticipated over the next 12 months from these two events. Brazil's participation in these activities was supported by the Brazilian Leather project, a partnership between the Centre for the Brazilian Tanning Industry (CICB) and the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil).

In Vietnam, companies America Leather, A. P. Müller, Durlicouros, Curtume CBR, and JBS Couros reported a total of over $3.1 million in business from the Shoes and Leather fair. Prospects for the next 12 months reached $10.55 million. “In absolute numbers, the fair's results were three times higher than those of the 2023 edition. The participation of Brazilian tanneries was also greater this year, highlighting Vietnam's importance and its rise in our exports,” analyses Rogério Cunha from CICB's Trade Intelligence.

With 14 Brazilian exhibitors, the Lineapelle New York fair concluded with $2.55 million in business, and a projection of $14.9 million by July 2025. According to Letícia Luft, manager of the Brazilian Leather project, the event in the United States has become crucial in the Brazilian leather agenda. “As the second-largest share in Brazil’s exports (13.4% in the first half of 2024), Americans have attention towards relationship-building actions. Lineapelle New York is established as the event of choice for major brands and new designers for research and material sourcing, making our presence essential every semester,” she highlights.

Soon, Brazilian leather will feature in new events in the international market. In September, it will participate in the All China Leather Exhibition in Shanghai, China, followed by Lineapelle in Milan, Italy. The year 2024 will conclude with ANPIC in León, Mexico, in October.

About Brazilian Leather

Brazilian Leather is a sectoral project aimed at internationalising Brazilian leather, conducted by the Centre for the Brazilian Tanning Industry (CICB) in partnership with ApexBrasil (the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency). Various strategies are employed to consolidate the national product in foreign markets – encouraging tanneries to participate in the world's leading trade fairs related to the sector and business missions aimed at strengthening relationships between Brazilian suppliers and international buyers are some of these strategies. For more information, visit www.brazilianleather.com.br.

About ApexBrasil

The Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) works to promote Brazilian products and services abroad and attract foreign investment to strategic sectors of the Brazilian economy. To achieve these goals, ApexBrasil carries out diverse promotional activities designed to promote exports and enhance the value of Brazilian products and services abroad, such as prospective and commercial missions, business rounds, support for the participation of Brazilian companies in major international fairs, visits of foreign buyers and opinion makers to learn about the Brazilian productive structure, among other business platforms aimed at strengthening the Brazil brand. The agency also works in coordination with public and private actors to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) to Brazil, focusing on strategic sectors for the development of the competitiveness of Brazilian companies and the country.

About CICB

The Centre for the Brazilian Tanning Industry (CICB) represents companies producing leather in the country. Since its foundation in 1957, the CICB has sought growth, qualification, strengthening, and unity within the sector. The guiding principle of the organisation is sustainability, through which the entity engages in technology projects and the training of new professionals, dialogue with governmental entities, interfacing industry agendas with public authorities, commercial promotion of leather and advocacy, reputation building and image promotion, technical qualification, design and market information research. It also engages in institutional representation, connection and dialogue with the production chain, and conducts working groups – Traceability and Communication – with members across the country