According to Wenzhou customs statistics, 2.15 million pairs of shoes were exported from Wenzhou to Italy in May and June with a value of $12.95 million.

Compared with the same period in 2005, the value of total shoe exports to Italy has increased 58% and the average price per pair has increased 70.45% to $6 per pair.

An official from the Wenzhou Footwear & Leather Association reported that a large number of shoes were rejected by Italian customs last year due to their poor quality and the excessive use of chemicals. The government in Wenzhou has been providing technical guidance to businesses in order to prevent this problem in the future.