By Amit Chopra
In 2023, global footwear production decreased by 6% to 22.4 billion pairs, marking the lowest point in a decade, excluding the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021. The industry remains heavily concentrated in Asia, where nearly 9 out of every 10 pairs of shoes are manufactured, accounting for 87.1% of global production.
China remains the world’s largest footwear producer, manufacturing 12.3 billion pairs in 2023 and capturing almost 55% of the global market share. India also increased its share, now accounting for 11.6% of the world’s total production.
Decline in Exports
Footwear exports saw significant setbacks in 2023, with volumes and values dropping by 9.1% and 6.1%, respectively. Despite the decline, the value of exports stood at $168 billion, the second-highest level on record. 2023 data from the World Footwear Yearbook, published by APICCAPS (the Portuguese Footwear Association), highlighted a production decrease to 22.4 billion pairs, following a recovery in 2022. There was a 1.5 billion pair loss, driven by consumption drops in key markets such as the United States (-749 million pairs), China (-398 million pairs), and the European Union (-399 million pairs). Export volumes decreased to 14 billion pairs, down by 9.1% compared to the previous period.
Regional Consumption Patterns
Asia’s consumption accounted for more than half (54.7%) of the global total in 2023, an increase from the previous year. Europe and North America followed with shares of 13.9% and 13.4%, respectively. Per capita footwear consumption ranged from 1.5 pairs in Africa to 4.6 pairs in North America.
China remains the leading consumer of footwear, though its global share declined to 17.1%. The United States saw a significant reduction in consumption, losing its second position to India. The European Union, considered as one region, was the third-largest consumer market with 1,948 million pairs consumed in 2023.
Export Dynamics
Global footwear exports totaled 14 billion pairs and $168 billion in 2023, reflecting year-on-year decreases of 9.1% in volume and 6.1% in value. Over the last decade (excluding 2020), annual export volumes fluctuated between 14 and 16 billion pairs without a long-term trend. However, the value of exports in 2023, which reached $168 billion, represents a 24% increase compared to 2014 levels.
Asian countries consolidated their dominance in global footwear trade, with their collective share rising to 84.6% in 2023 from 83.9% in 2022. Europe’s share slightly contracted to 12.8%. China was the source of 63.8% of total exports, up from 61.3% in 2022. Vietnam ranked second at 9.5%, followed by Indonesia at 3.2%. Together, these three countries accounted for over three-quarters of worldwide footwear exports.
Average Export Price Trends
The average export price per pair of footwear reached $12 in 2023, representing a 3.2% increase over 2022 and a substantial 38.8% increase over the past decade. Textile footwear saw the most significant price increase, with a remarkable 65% rise over the decade. Leather footwear prices showed a modest increase of 24% during the same period.
Export Composition
In terms of value, leather footwear led the exports, accounting for 38% of the total value due to its higher average price. However, in terms of volume, rubber and plastic footwear commanded the lead, making up half of the global exports.
World Footwear Yearbook
APICCAPS has published the 14th edition of the World Footwear Yearbook, which analyzes key trends in the global footwear industry. The 2024 edition includes data on production, consumption, exports, and imports, offering a specific analysis of 84 different markets and the evolution of the sector’s leading global players.
Source: World Footwear Yearbook 2024
