Although historically a driving force for the Italian footwear industry, export data compiled by the Confindustria Moda Accessories Research Centre for Assocazalturifici indicates that the current scenario remains challenging.

In the first five months of the year, Italy exported 84.5 million pairs of shoes, worth 4.89 billion euros. This represents an increase of 3.2% in volume, but a decline of 2.7% in value, as compared to the same period of 2024, with an average price per pair falling by 5.7% year-on-year to 57.82 euros.

In general, EU markets performed better than non-EU destinations, with a 1% increase in value and a 6.1% increase in volume, as compared to the first five months of last year. Among EU markets, Assocalzaturifici highlighted the recovery of Germany, to which Italy recorded export growth of 12.4% in value and 15.8% in volume. Meanwhile, exports to France remained stable in terms of pairs (up by 1.3%), although they dropped by 5.5% in value – France remained the top destination.

As for non-EU exports, the value of Italian footwear exports decreased by 6.5% and the volume by 3.2% between January and June, as compared to the same period in 2024. Widespread declines affected all major Far East markets (down by 23%), as well as several former Soviet bloc countries, including those at war (Russia: down by 14.4% in value; Ukraine: down by 3.8%), which slowed after significant expansion in recent years.

“The uncertainty of the impact of US tariffs remains”, added Giovanna Ceolini, President of Assocalzaturifici. “Their real consequences on sales can only be quantified once autumn data is available. The resilience shown by exports to the US in April (+1.9% in value) and May (+1.8%) should be interpreted with caution, as the uncertainty and the possibility of even heavier tariffs being imposed may have led operators to speed up transactions with the additional 10% duty. It is therefore too early to draw conclusions”.

“The importance of the US for footwear exports – it was the second market in value, with nearly 1.4 billion euros in 2024 – has made this issue particularly pressing in recent months, given the risks it poses for companies exposed to that market, rightly concerned”, she emphasises.

Looking ahead, companies are waiting to see what will happen as the establishment of tariffs (set at a baseline of 15% by the EU agreement) was declared unlawful by a US federal appeals court, and the White House’s appeal to the Supreme Court will be known in October. Nevertheless, the impact of the tariffs could affect American customers’ purchasing decisions and directly impact exporters’ margins if companies decide to “absorb” all or part of the new duty.

Conversely, footwear imports increased by 18.2% in volume during this period, with significant growth in imports from the Far East (up by 45%). In addition to China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia and Myanmar all recorded substantial increases. Overall, the trade surplus fell to 2 billion euros (a decline of 15.8% compared to January – May 2024).

According to the World Footwear 2025 Yearbook (more information available HERE), Italy is one of the top 10 producers, exporters and importers of footwear. While export volumes have gradually declined over the past decade, rising prices have driven export value up by one-third. However, in 2024, prices fell, leading to an 8% drop in export value.

Giovanna Ceolini also noted that domestic household consumption is struggling to recover, with a 1.9% decrease in volume and a 0.7% decrease in spending. Sports shoes and sneakers are the only segments showing slight dynamism, with a 1.2% increase in spending.

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