Exports still the big hope of Italian bag producers
04/02/2015
Speaking ahead of the latest edition of the Mipel exhibition in Milan (16-18 February), new Aimpes chief executive, Fabrizio Solé, explained that Italian bag manufacturers and other leathergoods producers had achieved sales of €4.4 billion the January-September period. Women’s handbags accounted for €2.8 billion of the total, a share of nearly 64%.
Mr Solé explained that Aimpes had been particularly pleased by growth in key export markets such as China (up by 11.8%), the UK (11.1%), the US (9.8%) and Germany (8.2%). He also pointed out that there had been high levels of growth in some newer markets for Italian leathergoods, including Brazil (up by 43%) and Saudi Arabia (13.5%).
However, exports to several important, established markets fell during the first nine months of 2014 compared to the same period the year before. Russia showed a decline of 14.8%, while there was a decrease in sales to Japan of 7.1%.
“Leathergoods made in Italy still have a high appeal around the world,” Mr Solé said, “and the key to our continued success in export markets is to preserve and emphasise our traditions of skill and craftsmanship.”
There was less positive news on the domestic front, however, with sales declining by 3% to €1.4 billion in the first nine months. “Italian families are buying fewer leathergoods,” the Aimpes chief executive said, “and this trend is ongoing.”
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