Slowdown in growth rates compared to the two years 2010-2011 but there are indications of a recovery above all for the more dynamic and efficient firms

These are the crucial elements revealed by Shoe Report 2013 held annually on the situation in the Italian footwear sector and its contribution in strengthening Made in Italy, presented by Assocalzaturifici in Rome.
Now at its fifth edition, the Report offers an in-depth analysis of the economic situation with the objective of revealing the trend of the footwear trade. It is a means of making known what is and could be the contribution of the footwear sector to economic and social growth of the country, even if there is a slowdown in the trend. It is enough to consider that total export volume declined by 6.4% in 2012, as against the previous year, despite the fact that this negative sign was compensated by an increase in export value that showed a +2.5%.
Some 94% of Italian exported goods come from seven main footwear manufacturing areas, in particular the first four – the Veneto, Tuscany, the Marche and Lombardy, in the order of export value – cover as much as 80% of foreign sales.

These areas are seen to be sustaining Italian manufacture despite market difficulties, recovering or even exceeding pre-crisis levels at the end of 2012.
On the other hand the domestic market continues negative as regards as regards quantity consumed (-3.6%) and relative value (-4.2%) even if the overall trade balance shows an increase of 12.4%. This data would seem to be confirmed also by indications on the first quarter of 2013, above all regarding domestic consumption (declining by 4.7% in quantity), as against an increment in foreign demand to a value of 2.1% and decrease in quantity equal to 0.5%.

Although the domestic situation continues to be worrying due to ongoing decline in consumption – commented Cleto Sagripanti, president of Assocalzaturifici – we are convinced that this must convince firms of the vital need to meet the circumstances with active decision. The Report reveals that the crisis obliges a selection of those firms which are more dynamic and efficient that others, as well as emphasizing the need to change methods of production and distribution. Nevertheless this challenge can represent a great opportunity on which to base the elements of a recovery

Between 2000 and 2012 there has been a substantial reduction in the number of footwear firms (as much as 29.2%), with a consequent job loss of 29.9%. Even more significant is decline in production (-49%), despite compensation of export value that arrived at +16% (in detail +14.7% on the Russian market, +17.1% for Japan, +20.4% for Hong Kong, +25% for South Korea and 40.7% for mainland China)