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German footwear association sees opportunities from EU-Japan FTA

04/09/2018
The German footwear industry achieved sales of €1.55 billion during the first half of 2018, an increase of 3.2% compared to the same period of last year, according to figures from the German Shoe and Leather Industry Association (HDS/L).

These figures take into account the sales revenue of German footwear manufacturers that employ at least 50 people.

During the first six months of the year, Germany exported 157.7 million pairs of shoes for a total value of just under €3.4 billion. These figures represent respective increases of 6.6% and 8.9%. The average price of shoes exported from Germany increased 2.2% to €21.37.

The most important market for German footwear during this period was Poland, to which it exported 23.6 million pairs (an increase of 23.7%). The news was less positive from France, to which exports fell 2.3%, and the Netherlands, to which exports fell 11.3%.

Manfred Junkert, managing director of HDS/L, said there had been “dynamic development” in the Italian market. German shoe exports to Italy for the first half of 2018 increased 27.7% year on year to 9.9 million pairs. This made it the country’s fifth most important market.

Overall, countries in the European Union were the destination for 85.4% of Germany’s footwear exports. The volume of shoes exported to the EU increased 6% year on year compared to the first half of 2017.

Mr Junkert said the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), which was agreed in July, will give German companies greater access to the Asian country. He pointed out that Japan is the fourth largest economy in the world and has a considerable population.

HDS/L also offered details about the employment level in the footwear industry. Mr Junkert said there has been a “continuous increase” since 2011 in the number of people employed in the shoe industry. In the first half of 2018, the sector employed 15,277 people on average each month. This represents an increase of 5.7% compared to the same period of last year. 

He explained, however, that the shortage of skilled labour “continues to be a controversial subject” and urged German footwear companies to keep up with developments in the industry and to continue to look to recruit skilled workers. 

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