The Spanish footwear industry has once again proved itself a key player on the sector’s most important international stages with its renewed presence at the 102nd edition of MICAM Milan on 13–15 September. The Milan-Rho exhibition centre hosted a massive turnout of companies from Spain – 88 exhibitors representing no fewer than 109 brands – confirming the country’s status as the second-largest exhibitor, after Italy, in terms of numbers at the fair.
Led by the strategic direction of the Spanish Footwear Industry Federation (FICE) under the collective brand ‘Shoes from Spain’, Spanish companies presented a distinctive range tailored to global needs, combining sophisticated design, high-quality craftsmanship, innovation, creative flair and an increasingly strong focus on sustainability.
“The Spanish footwear sector is facing a complex international landscape, but it is doing so from a position of strength. The growth in our exports and Spain’s significant presence at MICAM reflect our companies’ ability to adapt, innovate and compete in the most demanding markets. Our challenge is to continue making progress in internationalisation and to consolidate the positioning of ‘Shoes from Spain’ as a benchmark for design, quality, innovation and value-added production,” commented Vicente Pastor, president of FICE.
The event forms part of the 2026 Programme developed with partner organisations and is supported by ICEX Spain Export and Investment, alongside the international promotion plans launched by the individual Autonomous Communities to support local businesses.
Against a global macroeconomic backdrop that is by no means without its complexities, the Spanish footwear sector is demonstrating strong resilience and remarkable strategic flexibility in maintaining its presence in foreign markets. In the first half of 2026, Spanish footwear exports reached 1,706 million euros, with 90 million pairs of shoes shipped. This represents an upward trend, marking a 1.5 per cent increase in value and a 1.8 per cent increase in volume compared with the first six months of the previous year. Within Europe, the main buyers remain France, Italy, Germany, Portugal and Poland, whilst the United States ranks sixth globally, confirming its position as the leading non-EU market.
