Asia, led by China and India, will continue to dominate the world footwear business. Asian countries will supply over 80% of the footwear traded in the world markets. On the strength of its population Asia will also be the largest consumer of footwear. However, the US and west European countries will be the major importers.

K Elangovan, executive director of Council for Leather

Exports (CLE), told the International Footwear Conference here on Friday that based on the fundamental parameters of raw material supply, labour availability, cost of production, design and product development and logistics, the World Trade Organisation has estimated that footwear production will be an Asian business. Brazil and a few others from the developing world may join the Asian league. China?s presence in the world footwear business is all pervading with having the largest share in production 62%, export 67.97% and consumption 17.3%. China exported 7.7 billion pairs of footwear worth $21 billion. About 36% of this was from exports to the US. The total footwear production in the world was estimated to be 14.52 billion pairs. Of this China produced 900 million pairs accounting for 62%. India is the second largest producer but has only 14.22% share with an output of 2,065 million pairs. Still far behind are Asian neighbours like Indonesia 580 million pairs (3.99%), Vietnam 525 million pairs (3.61%), Thailand 264 million pairs (1.82%), and Pakistan 251 million pairs (1.7%).

Footwear production is increasingly being shifted to Asia. There is very little production in the US. Production in the former leaders like Italy, Germany, Spain, France, and the UK have fallen substantially.

Turkey, which was expected to be the production and export hub for the CIS and east European countries has become a centre of re-export by sourcing footwear from China.

The major footwear consuming countries are the US with 2,286 million pairs (17.3%), China 2,097 million pairs (15.87%) and India 1,985 million pairs (15.02%).

The US is also the biggest importer of footwear (25.47% ) with 2252 million pairs. Hong Kong is another major importer. Most of the footwear is re-exported.

India is maintaining its second position, though way behind China. It is also keeping its traditional markets and exploring new ones. CLE chairman Muktharul Amin told FE that it was proposed to increase production and exports of leather and leather products to $7 billion by 2011. ?We have submitted many proposals to the Planning Commission for financial support of about Rs 1200 crore. There are also plans for special leather and footwear parks, special economic zones, and capacity increase by individual manufacturers to hit the target.? He said footwear export was growing in India at more than 18% annually and it accounted for an export value of $1212 million in 2006-07, holding a major share of 41% in India?s total leather trade.