FIMEC welcomed more than 23,000 visitors and has established itself as the largest supplier event in Latin America
From March 18 to 20, the 48th edition of FIMEC was held at the Fenac pavilions in Novo Hamburgo (RS). The international fair focuses on hides and skins, synthetic and textile materials, supplies and components, chemicals, machinery and equipment for footwear, manufactured goods and tanneries.
Under the motto “Where sustainability, business, and relationships meet,” the exhibition reflected an industry attentive to transformations related to innovation and environmental awareness.
With great momentum over its three days and positive expectations for future business, the event once again consolidated its strategic role in the sector's production chain, positioning Brazil as one of the most important hubs in the industry.
The Brazilian supplier fair hosted 400 exhibiting companies across 10,600 m² of commercialized surface area, its largest since 2017. Participants included companies from several Brazilian states as well as international representatives from Peru, Colombia, Uruguay, Italy, Türkiye, China, and the United Arab Emirates.
The event attracted more than 23,000 visitors from 36 countries, along with professionals from various regions of Brazil.
For Márcio Jung, CEO of Fenac, the high attendance and the qualified profile of the visitors reflect the work done to attract international audiences.
He also noted that while many large companies participate for institutional purposes, “small and medium-sized exhibitors see this as an opportunity to gain new clients, which is essential for the market.”
As part of the BRAZILIAN MATERIALS program, promoted by the Brazilian Association of Companies of Components for Leather, Footwear and Manufactured Goods (ASSINTECAL) and the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (APEXBRASIL), the Buyer Project was organized. This initiative facilitated business meetings between exhibitors and representatives from Argentina, Mexico, Colombia and Ecuador.
According to Luiz Ribas Júnior, ASSINTECAL’s International Market Manager, the selected groups -together producing over 550,000 pairs of shoes per month- were chosen for their strategic relevance to Brazilian exports due to their proximity and cultural ties to the domestic market.
During all three days of the event, the 15th edition of the Concept Factory took place, this year considered the most complete since its inception. Across 1,600 m², more than 80 companies participated, including suppliers of raw materials and supplies, machinery manufacturers, logistics solutions, management systems, and packaging companies.
According to Paulo Model, technical coordinator of the Brazilian Institute of Technology of Leather, Footwear and Artifacts (IBTeC), his edition included five production lines: children's, women's, sports, safety shoes, and bag manufacturing.
A total of 2,750 pairs of shoes were produced from brands such as Piccadilly, Novopé, Marluvas, and CFP Senai, along with 120 bags from Arezzo and Schutz.
On March 19, a new edition of the CICB Sustainability Forum took place, focusing on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The event was part of the BRAZILIAN LEATHER program, led by the Centre for the Brazilian Tanning Industry (CICB) in partnership with APEXBRASIL.
According to CICB sustainability advisor Ricardo Andrade: “To conduct life cycle analysis on the stages following leather in the production chain -like manufacturing and consumption- it’s essential that all materials in a product also have their own assessments. Therefore, the entire productive and industrial ecosystem is involved, and we must be ready for this.”
Organizers have confirmed that the next edition of FIMEC will take place from March 3 to 5, 2026, from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the Fenac pavilions in Novo Hamburgo (RS).
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