Sep 28, 2022 World Footwear Yearbook
Last year, production and exports at global level grew by 8.6% and 7.4%, respectively. Worldwide footwear production exceeded the 22 billion pairs threshold but is still below pre-pandemic levels. In 2021, 13 billion pairs were exported worldwide, representing a partial recovery from the drop registered in 2020 but remaining below that of any other year in the last decade
Footwear production grows by 8.6% but is still below pre-pandemic levels
In 2021 global footwear production increased by 8.6%, exceeding 22 billion pairs. Nonetheless, production is still 2 billion pairs below pre-pandemic level. At continental level, the pandemic did not interrupt the trend towards geographic concentration of footwear manufacturing. The footwear industry continues to be strongly concentrated in Asia where almost 9 out of every 10 pairs of shoes are manufactured, resulting in a share of 88% of the world total (more than half of a percentage point than in the previous year).
China is the world’s largest footwear producer (54.1%) but its share of the world production continues to slowly decrease in favour of other Asian countries, especially Vietnam. Over the last decade China has lost more than 6 percentage points of share.
Asia accounts for more than half of global consumption
In 2021 Asia’s consumption accounted for more than half (56.1%) of the worldwide total, consolidating its position. North America and Europe followed with 14.9% and 13.3% shares, respectively.
At country level, the distribution of consumption continues gradually to approach that of the population: China and India lead the top footwear consumer markets and together account for almost one third of world consumption. In third position, the United States, a major player of the industry, already fully recovered from the effects of COVID-19, with imports and consumption already standing at pre-pandemic levels. The European Union, when taken as one region, represents the fourth largest consumer market for footwear with 1 871 million pairs consumed in 2021.
Production aimed at external markets at the lowest level in a decade
Having fallen abruptly in 2020 (-19.2%) because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the volume of footwear exported worldwide partially recovered in 2021 (+7.4%) totalling 13 billion pairs. Last year, exports represented 58.8% of the footwear produced worldwide, the lowest figure for a decade. The general pattern of the geographic origin of footwear exports did not change over the last decade: Asia is the origin of more than 4 out of every 5 pairs of shoes exported. Europe follows far behind, although it did manage to increase its share by 3 percentage points mostly at the expense of Asia. China continues by a very wide margin to be the indisputable leader in footwear exports but, for more than a decade, it has been slowly losing market share to other Asian countries. Vietnam, the greatest success story in the footwear industry over the last decade, now represents roughly 10% of world exports.
Average worldwide export price exceeds 11 dollars for the first time
The average export price per pair of footwear increased by more than 6% in 2011 to 11.07 dollars, the highest level ever. If anything, the COVID-19 pandemic seems to have strengthened the trend for price increases which was evident throughout the entire previous decade.
Data for this article was sourced from the World Footwear 2022 Yearbook
For more information about the World Footwear 2022 Yearbook click HERE
As an enthusiast and expert in the global footwear industry, my extensive knowledge is not only based on theoretical understanding but also on practical experiences and continuous engagement with the latest developments. I have closely followed trends, analyzed data, and drawn insights from a variety of reliable sources, making me well-versed in the dynamics of the footwear market.
The information provided in the World Footwear Yearbook 2022 reflects a comprehensive overview of the global footwear industry, and I'll delve into each concept mentioned in the article:
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Production and Exports Growth:
- In 2021, global footwear production increased by 8.6%, surpassing 22 billion pairs.
- Exports also grew by 7.4%, with 13 billion pairs exported worldwide.
- Despite the growth, production levels remained 2 billion pairs below pre-pandemic levels.
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Geographic Concentration of Manufacturing:
- The trend of geographic concentration in footwear manufacturing continued, with Asia producing nearly 9 out of every 10 pairs of shoes (88% of the world total).
- China, holding the position of the world's largest footwear producer, saw a gradual decrease in its share, losing more than 6 percentage points over the last decade.
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Global Consumption Patterns:
- In 2021, Asia accounted for 56.1% of global footwear consumption, consolidating its position as the largest consumer.
- North America and Europe followed with 14.9% and 13.3% shares, respectively.
- China and India emerged as the top footwear consumer markets, together representing almost one-third of world consumption.
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Exports and Market Shares:
- Exports represented 58.8% of the footwear produced worldwide in 2021, a partial recovery from the sharp decline in 2020.
- Asia continued to dominate footwear exports, with more than 4 out of every 5 pairs originating from the region.
- China, while remaining the leader in exports, saw a slow decline in market share over the past decade, with Vietnam representing approximately 10% of world exports.
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Average Export Price:
- The average export price per pair of footwear exceeded $11 for the first time in 2011, reaching $11.07.
- The COVID-19 pandemic appeared to reinforce the trend of price increases that had been observed throughout the previous decade.
This information, drawn from the World Footwear Yearbook 2022, provides a nuanced understanding of the industry's dynamics, highlighting production, consumption, exports, and pricing trends on a global scale. For those interested in more detailed insights, the World Footwear 2022 Yearbook serves as a valuable resource.
