Executive director, Council for Leather Exports, India, Dr Elangovan has expressed hope that the imposition of EU anti-dumping duties on footwear imports from China and Vietnam will increase Indian footwear exports. He believes the country has established itself as a viable alternative to China and Vietnam as a manufacturing base. The anti-dumping duties on China and Vietnam also mean that they are 15% more expensive.

India exported leather footwear worth $618 million between April 2005 and January 2006 compared with $501.2 million the previous year, an increase of 23.35%.

Dr Elangovan said that Indian exporters were benefiting from leading brands that have been looking at expanding their supplier base. As order sizes are increasing, manufacturers are setting up new facilities for manufacturing shoe components.

Footwear exporters are thriving as the demand from existing and new markets is growing steadily. According to media estimates, production capacity could increase by 50% in the current year.