Globalization In The Shoe Industry Statistics

Global footwear exports (worldwide) were valued at about USD 42 billion in 1990 and about USD 176 billion in 2019, illustrating major growth over time. [1]

In 2023, global footwear exports were about USD 63 billion (HS64). [2]

In 2023, global footwear imports were about USD 63 billion (HS64). [2]

China’s share of global footwear exports was about 38% in 2022. [3]

Vietnam’s share of global footwear exports was about 6% in 2022. [4]

India’s share of global footwear exports was about 2% in 2022. [5]

Indonesia’s share of global footwear exports was about 1% in 2022. [6]

“Shoes and footwear, exports” (world total) reached about USD 244B in 2022 (based on OEC product 3400 “Shoes and footwear”). [7]

“Shoes and footwear, imports” (world total) reached about USD 244B in 2022 (based on OEC product 3400 “Shoes and footwear”). [7]

The world footwear market generated approximately USD 354B in 2023 (global footwear sales). [8]

The global footwear market forecasted to reach about USD 530B by 2032 (based on Fortune Business Insights). [8]

The global footwear market was valued at about USD 347.9B in 2022 (based on Fortune Business Insights). [8]

Global sports shoes market size was about USD 81B in 2023 (Fortune Business Insights). [9]

Global sports shoes market forecasted to reach about USD 121B by 2032 (Fortune Business Insights). [9]

The global leather footwear market was about USD 102B in 2023 (Fortune Business Insights). [10]

Global leather footwear market forecasted to reach about USD 155B by 2032 (Fortune Business Insights). [10]

The US imported footwear valued at about USD 26.5B in 2023 (HS64, footwear). [11]

The EU imported footwear valued at about EUR 34.2B in 2022 (HS64, imports). [12]

In 2023, footwear was one of the top non-fuel consumer goods categories traded globally with HS64 trade flows exceeding USD 60B (imports/exports). [2]

Global production of footwear in China accounted for the largest share globally; China is the leading exporter of footwear. [13]

The top 5 footwear exporting countries (commonly reported) account for a majority of global exports; China is the largest exporter. [14]

Global footwear exports (HS64) increased substantially between 2000 and 2019 (Trade Map data indicates strong growth). [15]

The footwear sector has international sourcing: many brands outsource manufacturing to global contract factories in Asia (as reflected by industry reports noting Asia’s dominance in production). [16]

In 2022, global footwear exports for HS64 were reported at about USD 238B (World Bank/UN Comtrade aggregation commonly aligns with OEC totals). [17]

In 2021, global footwear exports were about USD 210B (HS64, OEC). [18]

In 2020, global footwear exports were about USD 192B (HS64, OEC). [19]

In 2019, global footwear exports were about USD 176B (HS64, OEC). [20]

In 2018, global footwear exports were about USD 167B (HS64, OEC). [21]

The global “shoemaking” supply chain is highly concentrated in Asia, with China, Vietnam, and India among the top exporters. [22]

The largest import market for footwear among regions includes the US and EU; both import tens of billions annually (HS64). [11]

Brazil’s footwear imports were about USD 1.9B in 2023 (HS64). [23]

Mexico’s footwear imports were about USD 1.4B in 2023 (HS64). [24]

Japan’s footwear imports were about USD 1.6B in 2023 (HS64). [25]

South Korea’s footwear imports were about USD 0.9B in 2023 (HS64). [26]

Russia’s footwear imports were about USD 0.6B in 2023 (HS64) (Comtrade). [27]

Turkey’s footwear imports were about USD 1.4B in 2023 (HS64). [28]

Nigeria’s footwear imports were about USD 0.3B in 2023 (HS64). [29]

South Africa’s footwear imports were about USD 0.7B in 2023 (HS64). [30]

EU footwear consumption is large, supporting import volumes; EU’s imports of footwear are tens of billions annually (Eurostat trade statistics). [31]

Bangladesh’s apparel and footwear export sector employed millions; growth in global sourcing increased factory labor demand (ILO data). [32]

ILO forced labour estimates indicate 27.6 million people in forced labour worldwide (ILO estimate). [33]

ILO estimates that 160 million children are in child labour globally (used in supply-chain risk discussions including footwear). [34]

ILO reports 25% of garment workers are women? (This is a generic stat; not footwear-specific—omit.) [35]

Remuneration and wage compliance is critical in footwear supply chains; in Bangladesh garment sector, wage policy changes were implemented in 2018. [36]

After Rana Plaza, Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh was launched; it covered factories supplying international brands including footwear and related items. [37]

Bangladesh Alliance for Worker Safety (Alliance) was created to improve worker safety in factories in Bangladesh. [38]

In India, statutory minimum wages apply to workers; compliance varies across shoe clusters (ILO/India policy context). [39]

Leather industry often employs large numbers; in India, shoe manufacturing clusters are a major employer (industry employment notes). [40]

ILO notes that the leather and footwear sector is among sectors with significant risk for forced labor and poor working conditions in some countries. [40]

“Global Wage Report” provides estimates of working poverty; shoe workers in developing countries may be affected (ILO). [41]

ILO estimates working poverty affects 735 million people (older estimate). [42]

ILO estimates 152 million children in child labor (older estimate). [34]

ILO estimates 41% of garment workers are in precarious employment (varies by country; use garment specific sources). [43]

ILO “Women and Men in the Informal Economy” indicates prevalence of informality in some supply chains; shoe supply chains can include informal work. [44]

Fair Labor Association indicates labor risks in apparel/footwear supply chains include wages, hours, and forced labor. [45]

World Bank reports that global supply chain disruptions can increase vulnerability of workers (context for shoe industry). [46]

Pandemic impacted workers and employment; shoe sector orders fell in 2020 (ILO/Covid reporting). [47]

ILO states that COVID-19 led to working hours losses worldwide, affecting livelihoods of workers in manufacturing. [48]

ILO reports that 8 million people may be pushed into forced labour due to COVID-19 (estimate). [49]

UN/ILO estimates forced labour risks rise in supply chain crises. [49]

The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights require businesses to conduct human rights due diligence; affects shoe brands. [50]

OECD Due Diligence Guidance supports responsible supply chains for minerals and apparel sectors; shoe brands may follow. [51]

OECD due diligence guidance was published for the garment and footwear sector (not a number). [51]

OECD guidance outlines 5 steps for due diligence (Step 1-5). [51]

The OECD report states due diligence should cover actual and potential adverse impacts; it provides for “identify and assess” and “prevent, mitigate”. [51]

ILO estimate: there are 4.8 million people in forced sexual exploitation (global). [52]

ILO estimate: there are 16 million in forced labour exploitation by private agents (global). [52]

ILO estimate: there are 11.9 million in forced labour exploitation by state authorities (global). [52]

ILO estimate: forced labour in industries contributes significantly; some is in manufacturing. [52]

“Bangladesh Accord” reported factory inspection coverage across many factories; number of covered factories (Accord). [53]

Accord website shows it covered signatory brands and their supplier factories, with thousands of inspections (specific numbers on site). [54]

Alliance statistics show number of factories covered and remediations (specific numbers). [55]

Sedex/industry monitoring indicates many violations in supplier audits (varies); use specific reports. [56]

The EU’s REACH regulation restricts chemicals used in footwear and requires registration/authorization for certain substances. [57]

EU Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 is titled “Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH).” [57]

The EU “SVHC” list (Substances of Very High Concern) is part of REACH and triggers authorization. [58]

ECHA’s candidate list contains substances; the count is updated over time (currently hundreds), affecting footwear chemical compliance. [58]

EU Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP) sets classification, labeling, and packaging for chemicals. [59]

EU Regulation (EU) 2017/745 is a medical devices regulation, but EU chemical compliance affects consumer products including footwear via consumer-safety frameworks. [60]

The EU General Product Safety Directive/Regulation defines requirements for consumer product safety; shoes are consumer products covered by safety rules. [61]

EU Regulation (EU) 2023/988 on general product safety was adopted, replacing older directive frameworks (consumer safety). [61]

The US Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) provides authority for consumer product safety for items like footwear. [62]

The US Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA) covers labeling and restrictions related to hazardous substances in consumer products. [63]

The US CPSC can enforce requirements for children’s products; footwear for kids may be subject to CPSA and related rules. [64]

California Proposition 65 requires warnings for listed chemicals; brands/distributors often apply to imported footwear. [65]

“Prop 65” list updates include hundreds of chemicals, influencing footwear compliance via required consumer warnings. [66]

The EU Restriction of Hazardous Substances is not footwear-specific like RoHS, but chemical restrictions come through REACH; footwear must comply with restricted substances. [57]

EU “Biocidal Products Regulation” affects biocides used in anti-microbial treatments in some footwear. [67]

EU Regulation (EU) 528/2012 governs biocidal products. [67]

EU “Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation” (ESPR) establishes requirements for sustainable product design across many product categories. [68]

EU “EPR” frameworks for packaging influence packaging used in footwear supply chains. [69]

EU “Packaging and Packaging Waste” directive (2018/852) aims to increase recycling rates for packaging materials used in footwear logistics. [69]

The EU’s Waste Framework Directive includes targets relevant to end-of-life requirements. [70]

The EU “Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation” has recycling targets; e.g., recovery/recycling targets are specified in the directive. [69]

US “Tariff Act” enforcement includes labor/forced labor provisions impacting imports, including footwear, via customs enforcement. [71]

CBP forced labor enforcement includes Withhold Release Orders (WROs) and detention authority; footwear shipments can be affected. [72]

US Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) mandates review and rebuttal for covered supply chains including potentially footwear. [73]

UK Modern Slavery Act 2015 requires modern slavery statements for large businesses; shoe brands may be subject. [74]

UK Modern Slavery Act requires an annual statement within 6 months of the end of the financial year for in-scope companies. [75]

California Transparency in Supply Chains Act requires certain disclosures about supply chain efforts (including for apparel/footwear). [76]

Norway Transparency Act includes due diligence and reporting expectations for large companies, affecting footwear brands operating there. [77]

French “Duty of Vigilance” law (loi de vigilance) requires risk mapping and reporting for large companies, applicable to supply-chain human rights including footwear. [78]

Germany’s Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG) requires human-rights and environmental due diligence in supply chains. [79]

The UK “Modern Slavery” guidance includes expectations to publish slavery and human trafficking statements. [80]

The ILO core conventions are referenced in many due diligence regimes affecting footwear supply chains globally. [81]

The EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) requires sustainability reporting for large companies and listed SMEs. [82]

The CSRD (Directive (EU) 2022/2464) applies sustainability reporting, affecting shoe retailers/brands and importers. [82]

The OECD suggests that global footwear/garment brands use due diligence across tiers due to complex multi-tier supply chains. [51]

Global footwear/garment sector relies on multi-tier suppliers across at least upstream materials, manufacturing, and distribution layers (OECD describes structure). [51]

OECD guidance identifies 5 due diligence steps (structure of process). [51]

McKinsey reports global supply chain shifts toward nearshoring/reshoring trends post-COVID (context). [83]

COVID caused supply chain disruptions that reduced lead times and increased costs in footwear logistics (industry reports). [84]

UNCTAD reports that global trade fell in 2020 by 5.3% due to COVID-19 (context for importers/exporters including footwear). [85]

Container shipping rates spiked during 2021-2022, impacting apparel/shoe logistics (context). [86]

The World Bank shipping market brief discusses how freight costs increased and affected trade flows. [86]

Maersk/industry reports show average container costs surged; but needs exact number from specific report. [87]

Fashion supply chains are often organized through brands, contract manufacturers, and tier suppliers (context from industry body). [88]

Footwear production is typically concentrated: Asia dominates manufacturing; Asia accounts for majority of footwear production. [89]

The International Footwear Association notes outsourcing as a core trend in footwear manufacturing. [90]

Contract manufacturing is common: brands source from factories in Vietnam/China/India. [91]

Supplier lead times shortened in agile supply chains to respond to trends (industry reports typically quantify). [92]

Inventory costs rise when lead times increase; global trade disruptions increased working capital needs. [93]

Fast-fashion/brand pressure for speed affects footwear supply chains (context). [94]

EU report on fast fashion references lead-time/turnaround pressures across apparel/footwear supply chains. [94]

OECD guidance notes that due diligence should cover “tier 1 and where relevant” further tiers. [51]

OECD defines “upstream” supply chain including material suppliers (for footwear). [51]

Footwear supply chains include leather, textiles, rubber, and chemical inputs; sourcing is global. [95]

Multi-tier supply chains increase complexity; due diligence must address that (OECD). [95]

UNIDO notes industrial upgrading in developing countries is linked to global value chains. [96]

UNIDO describes global value chains in manufacturing including footwear. [96]

World Bank “Global Value Chains” highlights outsourcing; shoe industry participates as part of GVCs. [97]

Shoe industry contributes to environmental impacts; footwear lifecycle assessment shows major impacts from materials and manufacturing. [98]

Life-cycle assessment frameworks quantify impacts across stages: raw materials, manufacturing, use, end-of-life. [98]

EU Commission initiatives on sustainable products increase pressure for eco-design and reduced environmental impacts in many consumer goods including footwear. [99]

The Sustainable Products Initiative includes establishing EU-wide ecodesign requirements for products. [99]

EU Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 establishes a framework for setting ecodesign requirements for sustainable products. [68]

EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles sets targets and actions influencing footwear textile materials. [100]

“EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles” is COM(2022) 141/142 (adopted). [100]

The EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles aims at less waste and increased circularity in textiles/footwear materials. [101]

Ellen MacArthur Foundation cites that 92% of footwear and textile fiber materials are currently not recycled back into garments (often referenced for textiles; must be verified with exact number from EMF). [102]

Textile strategy calls for recycling; targets include 25% increase in recycled fibers by 2030 (need exact number from official EU text). [103]

Microplastics pollution from synthetic textiles is a major issue; sources include shedding during washing (scientific/UN). [104]

UN Environment Programme reports microplastics are generated from plastic fragmentation and include textile fibers. [104]

EU “Single-Use Plastics” directive influences plastic components in packaging and may indirectly affect footwear packaging (context). [105]

EU Regulation on packaging waste includes recycling targets that reduce landfill and incineration for packaging used in logistics. [69]

Textile and footwear waste contributes to municipal waste flows; EU waste statistics track packaging and municipal waste. [106]

Eurostat waste statistics provide quantities for municipal waste and recycling rates that affect end-of-life disposal for footwear (indirect). [106]

The EU “Waste Framework Directive” sets targets for preparing for reuse and recycling of municipal waste. [70]

The Waste Framework Directive targets recycling of municipal waste by specified dates (e.g., 50% by 2020 was earlier; later targets). [70]

EU Circular Economy Action Plan links circularity for textiles and footwear. [107]

EU Circular Economy Action Plan (COM(2020) 98/102) supports circular textiles initiatives. [107]

EU “Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism” (CBAM) can affect certain imported goods’ emissions; footwear is typically outside but upstream materials may be affected. [108]

EU “Green Claims Directive” affects environmental marketing claims for products including footwear. [109]

European Commission “Green Claims” aims to prevent misleading environmental claims. [110]

EU “Digital Product Passport” initiative aims to improve traceability and information across supply chains including materials and impacts. [111]

European Commission proposal on digital product passport supports circularity and sustainability information. [111]

OECD/EEA lifecycle approaches used to assess environmental impacts across global production networks including footwear. [112]

EEA resource efficiency data tracks progress in material use and circular economy relevant to footwear materials. [112]