BFSHOW Brazil. Strong sales drive growth in footwear production
The sixth edition of BFSHOW, the largest footwear fair in Latin America, generated positive projections for the Brazilian sector in the second half of the year. With approximately 350 local brands at Distrito Anhembi in São Paulo/SP, the fair received 11,600 visitors from all Brazilian states, including 1,150 importers from 60 countries. BFSHOW was promoted by the Brazilian Footwear Industries Association (Abicalçados) and organized by NürnbergMesse Brasil between May 18 and 20.
The executive director of Abicalçados, Haroldo Ferreira, said the event was highly effective because the exhibiting companies participated with expectations aligned with the current market situation, recognizing the challenges of the economic scenario and understanding the need to act strategically, with decisive launches connected to the demands of Brazilian and international retail. “In this context, the results obtained exceeded the brands’ expectations, pleasantly surprising the exhibitors,” he emphasized. According to him, the strategy of incorporating quality content also contributed directly to the success of the fair. “The Live Commerce workshops were full throughout the event, and the BFSHOW Arena offered relevant conferences for the national retail sector. We were able to provide what retailers were looking for,” he stated.
According to Ferreira, BFSHOW’s performance reinforces positive prospects for the second half of the year. “In the first quarter, we experienced an approximately 7% drop in production, reflecting a still challenging scenario. However, the results of the fair show that the market is reacting and give us confidence that this trend will be reversed in the coming months,” the executive said.
Benevenuto Arantes. Brazilian manufacturer from ANDACCO
“The fair was a pleasant surprise. We had an edition with sales closings at least 50% higher than in May of last year. The collection was very well received, especially women’s footwear, which accounted for 70% of sales at the event,” he said. With a production of 3,800 pairs of shoes per day, the company expects to increase production to 4,000 pairs per day during the second half of the year. “We also expect a rebound in the international market, especially in the United States, where we export around 40% of the total. Last year we suffered a severe impact due to the increase in tariffs, and now the market is recovering. In fact, here at BFSHOW, the first importer to visit our stand was from the United States,” Arantes commented. In addition to U.S. buyers, ANDACCO received importers from Argentina, Costa Rica, Israel, Ecuador, Chile, Peru, Uruguay and Paraguay during the fair.
Arthur Trindade. Marketing Coordinator of the Brazilian factory BEBECÊ
“This May 2026 edition was far better than the same month of the previous year.” According to him, in addition to proactive communication and collections, the positive result points to a market recovery for the brand. “More and more buyers are looking for us, both from national and international retail. The fair was excellent.”Neto Paula Leite. Comprador brasileño de KIKO´S Calçados
“We have attended every edition of the fair and have noticed the evolution not only of the structure, but also of the products presented. This summer collection has been very well renewed and is attractive. Here at BFSHOW, we made sure to visit all the stands to make seasonal purchases, but we also placed some orders for ready-to-ship items,” he said. These orders were placed to supply the group’s 11 stores, following a positive Mother’s Day, when sales were 5% higher than on the same day of the previous year.
Cristiano Lima. Brazilian buyer from JOFEAR Calçados
“Here we purchased 20% more than expected. After a complicated first half of the year, we believe the second half will be better, and for that we are counting on a larger stock,” he emphasized.
Sashenka Naicker. Buyer from EUROPA GROUP, South Africa
“We have been working with Brazilian footwear for many years, and the experience of participating in the fair was wonderful. It is very well organized, easy to attend, highly digital and modern,” she said. During the first two days, the importer met with Brazilian companies she already works with. On the last day of the fair, she visited new manufacturers she met at the event. “Brazilian products stand out for their design, colors and unique models, and the suppliers are like a family; our company shares the same values,” she noted.
Karla Calderón. Peruvian buyer from AFLUENCIA and LE CARRÉ
With a chain of 10 stores in Peru, she highlighted that the fair is large, well segmented and features a good selection of exhibitors. “I have been working with Brazilian footwear for about 25 years because of its quality, technology and product diversity, as well as its competitive prices. At BFSHOW, I closed orders with companies I already work with and also added a new supplier,” she said. She emphasized that 90% of the purchases made under private label are for the company’s own brands: Vincent van Gogh for men’s and women’s footwear, and Gorilas for children’s footwear.
Many of them admitted they had traveled to São Paulo with caution, influenced by a complex start to the year at the macroeconomic level. However, the commercial atmosphere of the fair reversed that trend. The need to supply shop windows for the second half of the year and the expectation of a recovery in consumption across the region encouraged the placement of orders.
Faced with current geopolitical challenges, global maritime freight and logistical complications with Asia, importers from the region once again confirmed Brazil as the major nearby supplier.
In the specific case of Argentine buyers and importers, a lower number of visitors was observed compared with the previous edition, and purchasing dynamics were strongly influenced by Argentina’s complex macroeconomic scenario -marked by a recession in consumption-, showing a different behavior compared with other buyers from the region.
The next edition of BFSHOW has already been scheduled. It will take place from November 10 to 12, also at Distrito Anhembi, São Paulo/SP, Brazil.
Sources: BFSHOW/ABICALÇADOS/OTHER MEDIA
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