The end of 2013 brought a historical number to the Brazilian leather industry: US$ 2,508 billion. That is the total value of leather and skins exports throughout the year, an all time record. The value exceeds in 20,7% the accumulated number of the previous year, according to analysis from the Department of Intelligence of the Centre for the Brazilian Tanning Industries (CICB), and with preliminary data from the Department of Foreign Trade – Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade (MDIC).

Leather and skins exports showed positive results on every single month of 2013, registering monthly historical records, specially after the year’s second bimester. Important initiatives from CICB and the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil) played a key role in this scenario – projects like Design na Pele and Preview do Couro, participation in international trade fairs and communication promotions overseas are good examples, as well as the great job of the Brazilian tanneries,working with extreme quality to suply the most demanding and high level markets.

According to José Fernando Bello, executive president of CICB, the Brazilian leather sector predicts a series of challenges in 2014. One topic that should be considered, says Bello, is Brazil’s exclusion from the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP).

When considering December 2013 alone, the total value of leather and skins exports reached US$ 238 million, which means an increase of 27,5% in comparison to the same month of the previous year and a new monthly record. The number also means an increase of 10,5% when compared to November of the same year.

Leather stands out in the Brazilian trade balance as one of the ten items that showed historical records regarding values and amount of exports throughout 2013.