It represents an increase of 35% compared with the same month of last year, reaching a growth rate of 18.6% in the value of exports in 2013 compared with the same period in 2012. Although the numbers are positive there is a concern for the future of the country’s leather exports.
The Executive President of the Centre for the Brazilian Tanning Industries (CICB), José Fernando Bello has restated that the exclusion of Brazil in the European Union General Scheme of Preferences (SGP) planned for January 2014 is a concern. The CICB believe that Brazil’s exclusion from the SGP will reduce the competitiveness of Brazilian leather in EU markets. According to the CICB there would be an increase in export duties on Brazilian exports in to Europe in the order of 3.5% in 2014. The EU accounts for 36% of Brazilian foreign exports of wet-blue, crust and finished leather, highlighted Bello.
Between January to September 2013, the exports of semi-processed, crust and finished leather from Brazil totalled US$1.82 billion or 1% of the country’s total exports.
