US economic slowdown hits Indonesian shoe exports
According to the Association of Indonesian Footwear Producers (Asprisindo) the slowdown in the economy of the United States, which last year accounted for $2 billion worth of Indonesian footwear exports, could pose serious problems for the association’s members.
Anton J. Supit, the Chairman of the Association, said last week that footwear exports began to decline last December, due to a decline in demand from the US, Indonesia’s largest export market for footwear. He predicted that this reduced demand from the US would see a decline in the country’s total shoe exports of at least 10%, worth $200 million. "In the current situation, it will be difficult for Indonesia to achieve this year’s target of $2.2 billion from shoe exports," Anton said.
In a statement to the press, Anton said the fall in demand from the US mainly affected sports shoes, produced for such well known brands as Adidas, Nike, Reebok and Fila. As more than 65% of Indonesia’s footwear exports to the US comprised these types, the decline in demand will severely affect the local shoe industry, said Anton.
