Italy’s footwear production falls a quarter in 2020
The latest figures show production fell to 130.5 million pairs during the year, and turnover to €10.7 billion.
There was also a significant decrease in exports, in terms of both value (-14.7%) and volume (-17.4%).
Assocalzaturifici’s chairman, Siro Badon, said there had been “severe economic consequences”.
“As well as losing about a quarter of national production and turnover, we also have to report a severe reduction in consumption by Italian households, in both expenditure (-23.1%) and volumes (-17.4%),” he said.
“This was a major drop, despite a double digit increase in online sales, which was not sufficient to offset the collapse of sales linked with tourism in Italy, especially in the luxury segments.”
Around 26 million fewer pairs of shoes were bought in Italy in 2020 compared with the previous year. The average price per pair fell by 6.8%.
The worst-hit segments were "classic" shoes for men and women (which saw reductions 30% in quantity), while for children's footwear and sports shoes/sneakers the fall was around 15%.
The reduction was less severe in the slippers and lounge footwear segment, which fell by 6.1% in volume and 5.3% in value.
Mr Badon added: “The trend is expected to remain negative in the first quarter of 2021. After beginning with a very lacklustre sales season: according to our surveys, the sector's entrepreneurs expect an additional average reduction in their turnover of -15.1% in year-on year terms.
“The recovery is clearly put off until the second half of 2021, if we assume that a satisfactory and comprehensive vaccination plan will progressively restore normal conditions, even though a return to pre-Covid levels is still some way off.”
Photo: Micam Milano, February 2020
