According to the economic report prepared by the Confindustria Accessori Moda Research Centre for the Italian association, preliminary figures for 2025 put total turnover at 12.84 billion euros, marking a 2.8% contraction compared to the previous year. However, there was a 1.1% increase in turnover in the last quarter of the year, ending a sequence of nine consecutive quarters of decline.

“In a macroeconomic landscape dominated by geopolitical uncertainties, lingering inflation and a global slowdown in fashion consumption, the sector has managed to contain its losses, showing in the final part of the year the first (timid) signs of a possible turnaround”, commented Giovanna Ceolini, President of Assocalzaturifici. 

International Trade

Exports remained the backbone of the Italian footwear sector, accounting for around 85% of national production. It is projected that overseas sales will reach 11.5 billion euros by 2025, which would limit the overall decline in value to 1.1% for the year. However, performance varied significantly across regions. 

Within the European Union, official Istat data for the first ten months of the year indicated a positive trend, with exports rising by 1.9% in value and by 7.6% in volume, as compared to 2024. In contrast, non-EU markets recorded a 3.3% decline in value, reflecting weaker demand in several key regions.

 
The Far East experienced the sharpest downturn, with exports falling by 18% overall and shipments to China dropping by 23.4% in value. This was due to declining consumer confidence and evolving luxury consumption patterns.

Conversely, the Middle East emerged as one of the most dynamic markets, with exports rising by 12.9% in value. The United Arab Emirates further consolidated its position as a strategic hub for high-end Italian footwear, with a 18.6% growth. 

Performance in the US was more mixed. Although exports rose by 4.4% in value in the first ten months of the year, export volumes declined by 2.4%. Following the EU-US agreement at the end of July, the introduction of new customs duties created uncertainty, raising concerns about the short-term prospects. 

“Market geography is changing rapidly”, emphaised Ceolini. “Europe’s resilience and the strong growth of the Middle East only partially offset the worrying slowdown in the Far East, particularly in China. The Chinese market, once the locomotive of luxury, is undergoing a reassessment phase that requires new strategic approaches. At the same time, we are looking at the United States with extreme caution. The introduction of protectionist measures in a key market for our high-end segment adds further uncertainty in an already delicate phase”. 

Domestic Market

In 2025, national footwear production reached 118.3 million pairs, which reflects a 5.5% decline as compared to the previous year.

Spending on footwear increased by only 0.5%, while sales volumes remained essentially flat (-0.1%), suggesting that consumers are becoming more selective amid persistent inflation. Sports footwear and sneakers were the only category to show resilience, with sales rising by 1.4% in value and surpassing the levels recorded in 2019 before the pandemic.

Outlook

Looking ahead, industry sentiment remains cautious. According to a survey of member companies, only 13% of entrepreneurs expect turnover growth in the first half of 2026, while 52% anticipate stable performance. A solid, structural recovery is not widely expected until early 2027.