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USA - Iran Tensions seen as Rising Risk for Global Footwear Industry
The conflict between the United States and Iran is increasingly viewed as a material risk for the global footwear industry, according to the results of the Spring 2026 edition of the World Footwear Business Conditions Survey
Industry Perception: Risk is Already Material
When asked about the likelihood that the USA–Iran conflict will have a significant negative impact on the footwear sector in their country in 2026, 44.4% of respondents rated it as high or very high. A further 30.6% rated it as moderate, suggesting that nearly three-quarters of the industry expect at least some level of disruption.
When asked about the likelihood that the USA–Iran conflict will have a significant negative impact on the footwear sector in their country in 2026, 44.4% of respondents rated it as high or very high. A further 30.6% rated it as moderate, suggesting that nearly three-quarters of the industry expect at least some level of disruption.
By contrast, only around one-quarter of respondents consider the risk to be low or very low. This distribution highlights a clear shift in sentiment: geopolitical instability is no longer a distant or abstract concern, but rather a concrete business risk shaping expectations across the sector.
Overall, the balance between pessimistic (high and very high) and optimistic (low and very low) views stands at +19 percentage points, confirming a negative tilt in industry sentiment. However, this concern is not evenly distributed geographically.
Regional Divide: North America and Europe Most Exposed
The perception of risk intensifies significantly in Western markets. In North America, the balance between high and low impact expectations reaches 50 percentage points, while in Europe it stands at 44 percentage points. This suggests that companies operating in or supplying these regions feel particularly vulnerable to geopolitical shocks linked to the conflict.
Several factors may explain this heightened sensitivity, including stronger exposure to global financial volatility, reliance on complex international supply chains, and closer alignment with US foreign policy dynamics. In contrast, other regions show more mixed or moderate expectations, reflecting differing levels of exposure and resilience.
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Contents
Contents
Executive Summary
Business Context
Health of the Business
Employment Level
Prices
Quantity
Difficulties
Retail Channels
Footwear Consumption in 2026
USA-Iran Conflict Impact on the Footwear Industry
USA-Iran Tensions: Mapping the Key Transmission Channels
From Suppliers to Shipping: The Real Impact of the USA–Iran Conflict
About Survey
About the Survey
In 2019, World Footwear established the World Footwear Experts Panel and has since conducted a Business Conditions Survey every semester. The survey aims to collect information on current business conditions in global footwear markets and provide a clear overview of the industry’s situation.
The fourteenth edition of this online survey was conducted in April 2026. It received 108 valid responses: 40% from Asia, 33% from Africa, 17% from Europe, 6% from South America, and 4% from North America. Almost half of the respondents, 47%, are involved in footwear manufacturing or in footwear trade and distribution. The remaining respondents work in other footwear-related activities, including education and research, trade associations, consultancy, and other areas.
Previous Editions of this Bulletin can be found HERE
