Brazil’s tanning industry recorded a 3.1% decline in export revenue during the first nine months of 2026, according to the latest figures from the sector’s main association, CICB. Cumulative export revenue for the January–September period reached US$814.2 million.
Exports by surface area dropped by 3.8%, while exports by weight increased by 3.6%, reflecting contrasting trends across different stages of processing. Shipments of finished leather fell by 13% and wet blue declined by 1.7%. In contrast, exports of crust grew by 19.3%, while salted hides increased by 65.5%.
The slowdown continued into September, with export revenue down 4.7% year on year and 1.2% compared with August.
Despite the association’s emphasis on market diversification, the three main destination markets continue to account for more than half of Brazil’s total leather exports. Export revenue from sales to China, including Hong Kong, fell 4.6% to US$250.7 million. Exports to the US dropped 12.6% to US$102.2 million, while sales to Italy fell 13% to US$81.3 million.
Alongside the trade data, CICB has published its first Sector Report, providing a detailed analysis of the supply chain.
