Italy targets higher-value shoes from Brazil
Exports of Brazilian footwear to Italy rose 10% in value in the first half of the year to $9.7 million.
However, the volume declined 4.6% to 767,000 pairs, which was due to "a shift towards products with a higher added value and greater fashion content", according to Abicalcados, the Brazilian footwear industries association.
The average price for a pair of Brazilian shoes exported to Italy is $12.60, 15% more than during the first half of last year.
Fifty-one Brazilian brands took part in Italy-based shoe fair Micam this week.
Leticia Spreb Masselli, who coordinated the Abicalcados trade promotion unit, said the aim is to reach "not only European buyers, but buyers from Asia, the Middle East and Russia "even if the latter is still an unknown due to the political unrest in the area".
"Expectations for the fair are very high," she added.
