This figure marks a decrease of 7.9% compared with July 2025 and 7.2% down year-on-year (versus August 2024, when they reached about US$88.4 million).

In volume terms, Brazil exported 13.5 million sq m and 45,300 tons of leather, up 3.2% and 18.2% respectively year-on-year. Compared with July, there was a drop of 5.5% in the area and a slight increase of 0.03% in the weight.

Over the first five months of 2025, exports totalled US$743.5 million, down 12.6% from the same period in 2024. Volume-wise, area fell by 5.3%, while weight rose 3.6%.

Product types

Among leather types, finished leather continued to increase its share, now accounting for 49.5% of export value and 37.7% in area. While there was a decrease of 6.6% (-6.8%) in value, there was an increase of 0.3% (+0.1%) in area. Wet-blue remained significant at 25.8% of value and 53.9% of area but posted a 22.6% drop in value despite a slight 0.4% volume increase. Wet-blue splits maintained 11.3% of share in value, with decreases of 11.7% in value and 13.8% in area.

Crust leather showed reductions, with a 30.2% drop in value and 23.5% in area, now representing 9.4% and 8.4% of exports respectively. Although August last year was one of the months with the lowest volume shipped in 2024, the volume of shipments of salted hides this month doubled in the annual comparison.

Key export markets

Mainland China remained Brazil’s top export market, taking 29.6% of export value and 43.7% of volume. Despite a 16.1% drop in value, volumes rose by 1.2%.

The United States held second place with 14.1% of value and 7.2% of area, though shipments declined 9.5% in value and 1.3% in area.

Italy followed with a 11.2% share in value and maintaining 13% in area, seeing drops of 15.5% in value and 5% in area.

China and the U.S. maintain a certain stability with regards to purchases of national leather in the accumulated up to August, but with stronger negative results in values (China -16.1% and U.S. -9.5%). Shipments to Italy, however, have the largest drop in area among the top three destinations, down -5%.

Elsewhere among the top 10 destinations, the biggest decreases in the year are for Thailand (-45.5% in value and -47.4% in area) and Hong Kong, China (-42.9% and -37.5%).

Exporting states

At state level, the biggest drop in value and volume occurs in Minas Gerais, with -30.4% and -42.4%, respectively. Rio Grande do Sul (RS) and Santa Catarina still register the best monetary performance, remaining close to stability. In area terms, Pará rose by 7.2% and Goiás (GO) by 6.2%.

RS maintained its lead in all three export indicators, with a 29.1% share in value, almost double that of São Paulo (SP) 15.3%. This was followed by Paraná (PR) in third place at 14.1% and GO in fourth place at 12.3%. For area, RS ranked first at 26.8% share, followed by PR with 16.5%, SP with 14.7% and GO with 13.4%.

CICB comments

CICB noted: “As in 2024, exports in August this year once again showed the worst monthly performance. Even in the face of a weak base recorded in the same month of the previous year, there was a decline of 7.2% in the total exported in August.

“The tariff situation and weak demand have affected businesses in recent weeks, with impacts across the main destinations. Shipments to the United States in August were the most affected, with a significant drop in the value exported — more than 23% — and a 12% reduction in volume, compared to the monthly average observed until July.

“Decreases in exports to China and Italy were also registered this month, although to a lesser extent. In the Chinese case, the retraction was about 16% in value and 17% in volume. For Italy, the decreases were 9% and 10%, respectively, always considering the monthly average up to the previous month as a comparative basis.

“We can see that, after just over a month since the increase in tariffs in the United States, the data reveals the significant impact on the leather sector.

“On the other hand, the world’s largest market for the sector also suffers from recent uncertainties and contradictions. Even with the extension of the tariff agreement between the U.S. and China for another 90 days, officially confirmed by both parties on August 11, there has not yet been a significant reaction on the part of Chinese importers in purchases.”