Footwear

In 1996 65% of all leather was converted into 4539 million pairs of shoes with leather uppers. The remaining light bovine leather was used for the production of garments, furniture and travel goods FAO (1998).   The production of shoes with leather uppers grew by 30% between 1979 and 1996. During this period production rose in developing countries by 160% and their share of global output grew from 35% to 71%. The expansion in leather shoe production was greatest in the Far East and to a lesser degree in Latin America. Production declined in all developed regions.

Leading Footwear Producers

Asia is the dominant producing region in the world. Its contribution to world production has steadily increased from 51% in 1985 to 63% in 1993 and 77% in 1999 with China by far the first in the world (Price 1999).

Figure - Regional Share in the World Production of Leather Shoes (all Types)

A regional breakdown of footwear production around the world in 1998 is illustrated below. China dominates the production scene and is also the largest exporter and consumer of footwear in the world SATRA (1997-98).

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Regional breakdown of footwear  production around the world 1998

Source:SATRA

Table - Leading Footwear Producers and Traders in the World (1997)

*These countries mainly re-export

Source: SATRA (1999)

Of the ten countries that were identified as the leading producers of footwear in 1998, China accounts for almost 50% of the world production. In Central and South America Brazil and Mexico are large producers for the region and it is expected for them to remain among the top ten world producers in the present decade. Italy was the fifth largest world producer in 1997 (fourth in 1998) and the main European producer.

It is expected that because of the very specific characteristics of its production system and those of its national chain Italy will maintain its position in the world’s footwear global chain.

In 1998 there was a slowdown in the worldwide global production of footwear, this being only 0.3 per cent higher than in 1997, markedly down from the average yearly increase of 4.2 per cent recorded in the previous three years. Asia increased production by 1.3% while the rest of the world saw relatively static or decreased production. China, the largest producer in the world (5520 million pairs) was followed by India with (685 million pairs) and Brazil (516 million pairs). Italy, Europe's star performer, produced 425 million pairs. Vietnam left the group, Indonesia lost ground and Pakistan was the newcomer.

World leading Footwear producers 2000

Trade

Leather and leather products are the most widely traded and universally used commodities in the world. Formal trade in these products was close to US$43 billion in 1994-96 and it is estimated that informal trade and business amount to equivalent values. The total value of trade (including leather shoes with leather uppers) is close to three times the value of the meat trade and more than three times that of the sugar trade as shown in Table 2.