ANCI says Chinese imports crushing footwear sector
26 Dec '05
3 min read
The data, however, leave no doubts about the need for urgent initiatives to redefine the regulatory context in which Italian footwear companies operate. In the first eight months of 2005, Italian footwear exports (EUR 4.2 billion) declined by 12 percent in quantity and 2.8 percent in value.
The most significant declines were registered in the top ten customer countries, which reduced their purchases of Italian footwear by a total of 21.9 million pairs.
In particular: Germany – 10.7 percent; France – 9.7 percent; USA –28.4 percent; United Kingdom –5.1 percent.
Imports, on the other hand, continue to make significant gains: they increased overall by 13.5 percent in value and 0.9 percent in quantity, compared to the record-setting levels of last year (with a 12 percent rise in volume for leather shoes).
Another significant figure is that referring to the state redundancy program (CIG): here, again, average data indicate a 4.9% increase in the leather and hides industry, but the situation in certain footwear manufacturing districts is particularly alarming.