Chinese footwear exports decline in the first quarter
According to customs data and industry sources, China’s footwear exports fell in the first quarter of 2026, while the leather footwear segment showed mixed performance
According to Chinese customs data, from January to March 2026, China exported 2.1 billion pairs of shoes, worth 9.42 billion US dollars. This was down from 2.2 billion pairs and 10.24 billion US dollars in the same period of 2025.
At the same time, the China Leather Industry Association (CLIA) highlighted a mixed performance in the leather footwear segment. While exports of leather shoes increased by 9.9% year-on-year in volume terms to reach 120 million pairs during the period, export value declined by the same percentage to 1.56 billion US dollars.
According to the World Footwear 2025 Yearbook (more information available HERE), China remains the dominant player in the global footwear market, although its market share has gradually declined due to increasing competition from other Asian manufacturers. This reflects the ongoing transformation of China’s economy and trade pressures.
Image Credits: aboodi vesakaran on Unsplash
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