South African footwear companies are expected to produce 65 million pairs this year, an increase of six million over last year, according to a report in local industry press.

It quoted Jay Irkhede, a director of leather and footwear at the Department of Trade and Industry, as saying the tanning and leather should produce R5.97 billion ($460 million) of product, an increase of $40 million from the previous year. Exports will make up around $260 million of this.

By 2020, the combined leather and leathergoods sectors are expected to produce $740 million of goods, including 120 million pairs of shoes per year. Around $460 million of the total will be exported.

Image: Cape Town, South Africa

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