Countries such as Portugal and Spain could benefit from Trump’s latest tariff policies, as the EU is the least penalised region, with tariffs of only 15%, which do not accumulate with historical tariffs   

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   

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   

We spoke to Dr. Tatjana Spahiu, an Associate Professor at the Polytechnic University of Tirana, to understand the current influence of digital technologies and how they will change the future of the footwear industry. Our conversation focused on key areas such as sustainability, skills development and young talent training   

Amid a challenging trade environment, the Latin American Footwear Forum is set to return from the 13th to the 15th of August with a more focused and action-driven agenda. We spoke to Horacio Moschetto, head of the Argentine Chamber of the Footwear Industry (CIC), to gain further insight into the event