Brazil'S Leather Exports Are Catching Up With China.

According to Bras LIA (UnB) University professor RicardoCaldas, Brazil leather exports will increase from last year's US $1 billion 800 million to US $6 billion in the next 8 years. The forecast is based on the average annual growth rate of leather exports in Brazil, which is about 20%%.

RicardoCaldas said that Brazil's leather exports jumped from $800 million in 2001 to $1 billion 800 million last year.

It is estimated that leather exports will reach US $2 billion 200 million this year and will increase to US $2 billion 800 million next year.

Last year, China's leather exports amounted to $3 billion 700 million, and Brazil's leather exports ranked only second in China.

However, according to RicardoCaldas, China's leather exports will be stable. It is estimated that by 2015, the leather exports of these two countries will be at the same level, that is, the export of products will be about 6 billion US dollars.

In terms of quantity, China is the largest leather producer in the world, producing 550 thousand leather products annually, accounting for 16%% of the global market share. Brazil ranks second, with 440 thousand leather products annually, accounting for 13%% of the global market.

By 2015, China's leather production is 800 thousand, still ranked first, accounting for 25%% in the global market, and Brazil's annual leather production should reach 700 thousand, which is expected to be equivalent to 20%% in the global market.

Brazil's leather exports increased by 21% in the first three quarters of this year, exceeding that of shoes.

According to statistics from the Brazil leather industry center (CICB), Brazil's leather exports amounted to US $1 billion 620 million in 1-9, an increase of 21% over the same period in 2006.

In the 1-9 month, Brazil's leather exports amounted to half of its beef exports (US $3 billion 290 million), exceeding the export volume of footwear for the same period (US $1 billion 440 million).

60% of leather in Brazil is supplied by automobile industry and furniture industry, and the rest supplies handicrafts, clothing and footwear industry.

1-9, Brazil's leather export target market was mainly Italy, accounting for 27.21%, an increase of 26% over the same period last year. China accounted for 23.35%, an increase of 47% over the same period last year, and Hongkong, China, accounting for 11.32%, an increase of 12% over the same period last year.