Many Brazilian tanners are now looking beyond their own boarders on the back of strong demand from the local market. ‘In the past two years we have found that the domestic leather and footwear markets have been very good for many Brazilians’, says Marcelo Seleme, director of Brazilian leather and footwear manufacturers, Curtume Viposa. ‘In that period both the local and foreign markets have been good for us’, he added.
In the past three years Viposa have seen their business expand by 50% and today they process around 1,500 Brazilian raw hides and produce 4,000 pairs of casual and safety shoes a day from their factory in Caçador, Santa Catarina State.
Since the Brazilian real was allowed to float freely against the dollar combined with a worldwide increase in demand for leather products Brazilian companies, such as Viposa, have experienced rapid growth. In stark contrast, neighbouring countries such as Argentina, have seen both their leather and footwear markets stagnate as currencies like the peso are tied to the dollar making many companies non-competitive.
Viposa are a family owned company whom currently employ 600 people at their recently upgraded tannery and combined footwear factory. ‘Tanning is our main business although 30% of production is for our own footwear factory. Around 40% of our finished leather is sold on the export market’, Seleme told Leather.
