China remains the world’s largest footwear producer, with 13 billion pairs manufactured in 2024 and a global market share slightly above 54%. India increased its share to 12.5% of global production, securing second place. Vietnam ranks third with a 6.5% share. "These figures should be assessed with caution,” notes Luís Onofre. "It is not reasonable that nearly 90% of global production is ensured by Asian producers when we should be advocating for free, fair, and balanced trade practices,” stresses the APICCAPS President. "The 2025 edition of the World Footwear Yearbook confirms Portugal as one of the major players in the sector, especially in the leather footwear segment. We are steadily making our mark.”

EXPORTS UP 4.6%
Global footwear exports also increased in 2024, rising by 4.6% in volume compared to the previous year, signaling a gradual recovery of international trade. Asia remained the leading exporter, accounting for 85.1% of total exports — slightly above the 84.5% registered a decade ago.

Between 2015 and 2024, global footwear exports grew modestly in volume (+1.2%) but rose significantly in value (+31.4%), increasing from USD 129.2 billion to nearly USD 170 billion.

Asian countries further strengthened their dominant position in global footwear trade, with their combined share rising from 84.6% in 2023 to 85.1% in 2024. In contrast, Europe’s share fell slightly to 12.6%.

ASIA DOMINATES CONSUMPTION
In terms of consumption, Asia accounted for more than half of global footwear consumption in 2024 (55.5%), reflecting an increase compared to the previous year. North America and Europe followed, with market shares of 13.6% and 13.5% respectively.

Per capita footwear consumption varies greatly across regions — from just 1.4 pairs per person in Africa to 4.8 pairs per person in North America. China remains the world’s largest footwear consumer, increasing its share to 18.6% of the global total. India ranks second with 13.3%, while the United States holds third place with a stable 9.8% share.

The European Union, considered as a single region, ranks fourth, with 2.069 billion pairs consumed in 2024. China continues to be the leading exporter, accounting for 62.2% of global exports, though its share has declined slightly (from 63.8% in 2023). Vietnam follows in second place with 10.7%, and Indonesia ranks third with 4.1%. Together, these three countries represent more than three-quarters of global footwear exports.

Over the past decade, the average export price of footwear has risen significantly — from USD 8.83 per pair in 2015 to a peak of USD 11.98 in 2023 — a 36% increase. This trend reflected rising production costs, a stronger focus on higher value-added products, and inflationary pressures in global supply chains. However, in 2024, this trend saw its first significant drop, with the average price falling to USD 11.47 per pair. This decline may indicate a shift in the product mix or pricing strategies, following two years of strong value growth.


Source and image: Portuguese Shoes