Another difficult year for Italian footwear
14/02/2017
Annarita Pilotti, president of the association, said that only in the first ten months of 2009, when the world was in the midst of a financial crisis, have export volumes been lower.
The value of the exports was up 2.6%, however, due to a shift towards higher priced products. They were worth €7.53 billion. The average price was more than €42 per pair, an improvement of 3.7% compared to the previous year.
Ms Pilotti said Italian companies had experienced “serious difficulties” in several geographical regions. This included a slowdown in growth in China, which is no longer providing double-digit improvement. There was also a 3.6% reduction in the value of exports to the US after six years of consolidation. She added that a “major setback” in the Middle East, saw exports fall 4.9% in value and more than 15% in volume.
Despite the drop in export volume, the Italian footwear sector again relied on overseas sales. Its domestic market is also struggling, with domestic consumption down 0.1% in volume and 2.4% in value.
This has resulted in a 2% fall in production levels. Imports during the first 10 months of 2016 increased 3.7% in value and 2.4% in volume.
Ms Pilotti warned that Italy is “at risk of losing the craftsmanship, know how and creativity that has contributed to writing the history of fashion in the world” if a stronger industrial policy is not put in place to support the Italian footwear sector. She called for structural change and a greater focus on footwear from the government.
“Fashion and the footwear manufacturing industry have been systematically overlooked in the expenditure items of the Italian budget laws unlike other traditional Italian manufacturing sectors,” she insisted, adding that it should be recognised as a “strategic asset” for the country’s economy.
Share this story:
