Declines for Italy’s shoe sector in first quarter
30/07/2025
Exports showed a modest positive increase in volume (2.5%), helping to limit the decline in value of 4.1%.
Exports in the first quarter reached €3 billion for 53.2 million pairs, with average prices falling by -6.5% to €57.07 per pair.
As in the previous year, EU markets (+0.8% in value and +6.4% in volume) performed better than non-EU destinations.
Within the EU, Germany showed a strong recovery (+15.5% in value and +17% in volume) after sharp declines exceeding -10% in Q1 2024. Exports to France also grew in volume (+4.6%), although they declined in value (-6.9%). This figure includes re-imports of products manufactured in Italy for French luxury brands. France remains the top destination country.
Outside the EU, exports to Switzerland remained stable, reflecting the reduced use of Swiss logistics hubs by luxury multinationals, in favour of direct shipping to final markets.
There was a significant slowdown across the main Far East markets: China fell by -17.9% in volume (-27.5% in value); Hong Kong by -14.3%; South Korea by -18.1%; and Japan by -33.5% (-13.6% in value). Overall, the Far East dropped by -22.6% in quantity and -25.3% in value.
Conversely, the positive trend continued in the UAE (+16.8% in value and +33.5% in volume) and Turkey (+21% in value).
The United States remained stable in value (+2.2%) but declined in volume (-10.6%) due to trade policy and a slight devaluation of the dollar.
Giovanna Ceolini, president of footwear manufacturers association Assocalzaturifici, said: “There are no significant improvements in the international economic and geopolitical landscape. Some resilience is evident, but the recovery remains weak.”
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