“Over the last ten years, Italian production has fallen by 26.7% — from 202 million pairs produced in 2013 to 148 million last year — while Portuguese production has increased by 8%, from 75 million pairs in 2013 to 81 million in 2023,” highlights the industry association (APICCAPS).

These figures are included in the most recent edition of the World Footwear Yearbook, which shows a 6% drop in global footwear production. The 22.4 billion pairs manufactured in 2023 represent “the minimum in the decade if we exclude the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021,” highlights the report.

Almost nine out of ten pairs of footwear continue to be manufactured in Asia, with China standing out as the world’s largest producer, with a share of 55%. The Asian continent suffered a 7% decline last year, year-on-year, while Europe “only” fell 5% in this indicator.

“Although 2023 was a particularly difficult year for the footwear sector internationally, the first consolidated signs of nearshoring are beginning to emerge. This is clearly a good sign for our companies, which, even in a climate of great demand, continue to invest and seek new business opportunities”, counters the president of APICCAPS.