World Footwear

Imports

Japan Retail: mixed signs for the footwear sector

Premium ContentSep 26, 2025 / Japan
Sales of apparel and footwear remain sluggish, with monthly declines compared to 2024. However, while clothing prices in Japan have outpaced general inflation (which is higher than usual for the country’s economy), footwear inflation has remained relatively stable, hovering just above the Bank of Japan’s 2% target. This suggests that, while households are reducing discretionary spending, footwear is less susceptible to price volatility. Nevertheless, rising import costs and exchange rate fluctuations could alter this situation

US Retail: fashion retail under pressure despite signs of recovery

Premium ContentSep 22, 2025 / United States
Although overall retail sales increased in the first half of the year, fashion sales fell, weighed down by weak demand in the early months, inflationary pressures and new tariffs. In this context, the online channel remains a bright spot, as consumers increasingly seek convenience and discounts. At the same time, footwear imports in the first seven months of the year recorded higher values but lower volumes, as average prices climbed under tariff pressure. Despite glimpses of improvement, retailers face a challenging road ahead, with fragile consumer sentiment and uncertain trade policy

Brazilian footwear exports decline as Chinese imports surge

Sep 17, 2025 / Brazil
While Brazilian footwear exports declined in August, mainly due to the impact of the 50% tariff imposed by the United States on Brazilian goods, imports from China surged

Italian footwear exports grow in volume but shrink in value

Sep 10, 2025 / Italy
According to the latest data released by the Italian footwear association (Assocalzaturifici), exports grew in volume by 3.2% but decreased in value by 2.7% in the first five months of 2025

Domestic demand fuels modest growth for the German footwear industry

Sep 5, 2025 / Germany
The German footwear industry saw a 1.3% year-on-year increase in sales in the first half, driven solely by domestic demand. Foreign sales fell by 11%, highlighting market challenges, according to HDS/L

After a Decade of Steady Growth, the Average Export Price of Footwear Dipped to $11.47 in 2024

Premium ContentSep 2, 2025 / World Footwear Yearbook
This is one of the key conclusions of the data published in the World Footwear Yearbook 2025, recently released by APICCAPS, the Portuguese Footwear Association. Get access to all relevant facts and figures of the industry

Footwear production rebounds in 2024

Premium ContentAug 26, 2025 / World Footwear Yearbook
Last year, global footwear production recovered, increasing by 6.9% and regaining the 1.5 billion pairs lost in 2023. This is one of the key conclusions of the data published in the World Footwear Yearbook 2025, recently released by APICCAPS, the Portuguese Footwear Association

Global Footwear Exports Increase in 2024 and China Continues to Lose Share

Premium ContentAug 19, 2025 / World Footwear Yearbook
This is one of the main conclusions of the data published in the World Footwear Yearbook 2025, recently released by APICCAPS, the Portuguese Footwear Association

Gradual Growth in Asian Footwear Consumption Endures

Premium ContentAug 12, 2025 / World Footwear Yearbook
This is one of the key findings of the data published in the World Footwear Yearbook 2025, just released by APICCAPS, the Portuguese Footwear Association. Get access to your copy today

UK Retail: signs of a slowdown are emerging

Premium ContentAug 11, 2025 / United Kingdom
After a promising start to the year, the UK retail sector is now showing signs of slowing down. Textile, clothing and footwear (TCF) sales, which had recorded consistent year-on-year growth in the first months of 2025, have now begun to decline, reflecting a general downturn in retail performance. Online sales have been highly volatile, with TCF categories being particularly sensitive to changes in consumer sentiment. Meanwhile, rising inflation and weakening consumer confidence are putting downward pressure on spending, and the decline in sales suggests that imports may follow this trend

Footwear production rebounds in 2024

Aug 5, 2025 / World Footwear Yearbook
Last year, global footwear production recovered, increasing by 6.9% and regaining the 1.5 billion pairs lost in 2023. This is one of the key conclusions of the data published in the World Footwear Yearbook 2025, just released by APICCAPS, the Portuguese Footwear Association

Spain Retail: the fashion sector is now under pressure

Premium ContentAug 1, 2025 / Spain
Unlike our previous forecast, the Spanish fashion sector is currently under pressure, with its turnover down by 2.56% year-on-year in the first half of the year. The footwear sector, in particular, is showing worrying signs, with low prices and cautious consumer behaviour. This has left retailers with high inventory levels and high hopes for summer discounts. However, only time will tell if the slowdown of the Spanish economy due to mounting global geopolitical and financial uncertainty will affect their prospects

2024: footwear production rebounds, exports rise in volume but not in value

Jul 31, 2025 / World Footwear Yearbook
In 2024, global footwear production recovered, increasing by 6.9% and regaining the 1.5 billion pairs lost in 2023. Footwear exports also improved in volume, rising by 4.6% compared to the previous year. However, the total export value remained nearly flat, growing by just 0.1%. These are some of the key conclusions of the data published in the World Footwear Yearbook 2025, just released by APICCAPS, the Portuguese Footwear Association

France Retail: something doesn’t add up in the footwear market

Premium ContentJul 28, 2025 / France
There is something amiss in the footwear retail sector in France. Since April, footwear sales have increased and prices have remained stable, supported by one of the lowest inflation rates in the Eurozone. Nevertheless, concerns have been raised about the sluggish state of the economy, with both consumer and retail confidence not only negative, but also on a downward trend. This suggests that footwear imports will most likely continue to decrease, as they did in April. Only time will tell what will happen next

Netherlands Retail: mixed signs in the first half of the year

Premium ContentJul 22, 2025 / Netherlands
Despite a strong start to 2025, the Dutch retail sector has been experiencing some volatility. Sales in the footwear sector recorded significant fluctuations, reaching their lowest point in April with a decline of 7.5%, before recovering to a decline of 2.5% in May. Notably, the footwear sector experienced negative inflation in these months, meaning consumers paid less for footwear. However, imports to the Netherlands have increased in the first quarter, and Retail confidence remains above zero. Therefore, despite negative consumer confidence and a challenging macroeconomic backdrop, there may still be some hope for the rest of the year
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