Highlights of Brazilian Leather's Participation at the ACLE Exhibition, in Shanghai

The world's leather industry turned its attention to Shanghai, China, with the All China Leather Exhibition (ACLE). Brazil participated with 15 companies 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 Shanghai, there were over 31,000 visitors at ACLE, a growth of 11.2% compared to the 2023 edition. Letícia Luft, manager of the Brazilian Leather project, highlights that this is a key event for all countries involved in the tanning industry globally, shaping long-term business. “We received positive feedback from the Brazilian tanneries, reinforcing that this exhibition is essential for anyone doing business with China. Since it is Brazil's main leather buying market, our participation is crucial and highly anticipated,” emphasizes Letícia, who was a speaker at the International Leather Industry Executives Summit (an event held on the first day of ACLE).

As part of Brazil's activities in Shanghai, the Brazilian Leather project held a special session with leather importers from the Foshan hub, a traditional Chinese furniture manufacturing region. This took place on the eve of ACLE, featuring presentations on Brazilian leather (with Letícia Luft), ApexBrasil's work (with Viviane Iark, Brazilian Leather manager at ApexBrasil, and supported by Carlos Pan, ApexBrasil analyst for Asia and the Pacific), the Foshan Furniture Association (with its president, ZhenYang Zhou), and Brazilian diplomacy (with the Brazilian Consul General in Shanghai, Augusto Pestana). The session also included business rounds and the signing of a cooperation agreement between Brazilian tanneries and Foshan leather importers. This initiative is a result of the Export More Brazil project, whose leather edition was held in May in São Luís (Maranhão) and included the participation of the president of the Foshan Furniture Association.

About Brazilian Leather – A sectoral project for the internationalisation of Brazilian leather, Brazilian Leather is led by the Centre for the Brazilian Tanning Industry (CICB) in partnership with ApexBrasil (the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency). Various strategies are in place to consolidate the national product in foreign markets – encouraging tanneries to participate in key global 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 investments to strategic sectors of the Brazilian economy. To achieve these objectives, ApexBrasil undertakes diverse trade promotion activities aimed at increasing exports and enhancing the value of Brazilian products and services internationally. These include prospective and trade missions, business rounds, support for Brazilian companies at major international trade fairs, visits by foreign buyers and opinion leaders to experience Brazil's productive infrastructure, and other business platforms that also aim to strengthen 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 competitiveness for Brazilian companies and the country.

About CICB – The Centre for the Brazilian Tanning Industry (CICB) represents companies that produce leather in the country. Since its founding in 1957, CICB has sought the growth, qualification, strengthening, and unification of the sector. The guiding principle of the organisation is sustainability, through which the entity works on technology projects and training of new professionals, dialogues with governmental bodies, interfaces industry issues with public authorities, promotes leather commercially and advocates for the industry's interests. CICB also works on reputation building and image promotion, technical qualification, design and research, and market information. It engages in institutional representation, connection, and dialogue with the production chain, and organizes working groups – Traceability and Communication – with members across the country.