Imports
How is COVID-19 impacting footwear retail in different countries?
With the world fast approaching 180 million cases of infected people and with vaccination now in place in several countries, we bring a summary of our latest Flash Reports focused on some key markets
Japan Retail: too early to be excited about retail
After a year of underperforming, the Retail Index for Apparel & Accessories managed to overcome the figures of the previous year in March 2021. Notwithstanding, importers do not seem yet convinced that this is a sustained recovery. The good news, as in other countries, comes from confidence indicators, with consumers seem to drive away from pessimism. However, all seems too fragile yet and it might mean that it is too early to get excited with retail in Japan
Germany Retail: After some successful months, retail took a massive hit by the end of 2020
After the initial hit back in the first months of 2020, the impact of the pandemic in German retail sales seemed to be manageable for most of the year. However, in the last two months of 2020 the plot of the story changed, and with strength. As in other geographies, the bad news for the offline channels has been accompanied by good news for the online. Will this be enough? Most people believe it will not. The good news seems to come from the confidence indicators: consumer pessimism seems to be fading away. And retailers seem to follow. Will confidence beat COVID-19?
Argentina applies labelling standards for all footwear entering the country
The Government of Argentina announced the measure will be applicable for companies importing any type of footwear to Argentina. Importers will have to adapt to the new standard called "AR" and which relates to the size of the shoes
Spain Retail: depressed retail and online sales gaining share
The TCF retail Sales Index in Spain is showing some resistance to getting back to the pre-pandemic levels, even if some recovery took place over the second half of 2020. One positive sign seems to come from internet retail, which is gaining share since September 2020. The concern raises as this is being done at the expenses of physical retail. If one needs hope and goods news, those might come from some relative optimism from the consumer side, which might be followed by the retailers. The next few months will be key to see if they persist
Italian and Spanish footwear risk additional taxes in the US market
The Digital Services Taxes (DST) and the reaction of the US with the threat to implement tariffs to products coming from 6 US trading partners are the hot topic at the moment in the footwear industry. Today we look into what that means for Italy and Spain
How are Italy and Spain reacting to the threat?
The announcement made by the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on the 26th March regarding the next steps in its Section 301 investigations of Digital Service Taxes (DSTs) adopted or under consideration by several US trading partners made the alarm sound for Spain and Italy
Matt Priest: we are 100% against the duties
We spoke with the President & CEO of the Footwear Distributors & Retailers of America to go over the topic of the moment: the US threat of duties on footwear imported from Spain, Italy and the UK
Trading footwear with the UK: are you familiar with the EU-UK deal?
Just before Christmas, people and businesses from both sides of the English Channel breathed in relief: a BREXIT deal had been achieved. Almost immediately, many questions arose regarding the new procedures to move goods between the two parties. Are you familiar with the new deal? Learn more today
Brazil: two digits decline in production and exports in 2020
According to data released by Abicalçados, the Brazilian footwear sector may have lost 21.8% of its production in 2020, returning to levels registered 16 years ago. Brazilian footwear exports fell by 18.6%, the worst performance since 1983
US Retail: footwear retail sales still below the 2018 average
No matter the seasonal hike in December, with flat retail sales of footwear since June 2020 and 20% lower than the 2018 average, the 1st quarter of 2021 will hardly beat this baseline. Even if one considers the hike in ecommerce, perspectives are not great. On top of that low consumer confidence and uncertainty regarding a full return of shoppers to the high street, add to the gloomy picture of retail in the US
US: steepest contraction in footwear consumption in 60 years
The US, one of the largest footwear markets, is the country registering more positive cases of COVID-19 since the outbreak of the pandemic. We have spoken with Matt Priest, President & CEO of the FDRA, the local footwear association, about the current situation in the country
Pakistan: decline in foreign orders, but domestic market is doing well
We spoke with the Pakistan Footwear Manufacturers Association (PFMA) to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting the footwear industry in the country. Footwear companies focused on the internal market are performing better than exporting ones
COVID-19: Chilean digital commerce accelerated at least 5 years in 2020
We spoke with FEDECCAL, the Chamber of Leather, Footwear and Allied Industries, to understand the main impacts of the pandemic in the country's footwear trade in 2020. We also discussed the acceleration of digital commerce in Chile last year, much driven by COVID-19
EU-UK deal: how can leather goods benefit from duties exemption?
The EU-UK agreement has set zero taxes on goods traded between the two parts. However, rules have been set to benefit from the exemption of duties. How can leather goods benefit from zero tariffs?-
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