World footwear production continues to grow
A report from research and testing organisation SATRA reveals that footwear production has bucked general world trade trends increasing by just under 5% to more than 12 billion pairs a year. World Footwear Markets 2002 looks at the latest statistics for world production and finds that China’s share has grown to more than 53% of the world total, compared with just 11% two decades ago.
China’s dominance has come at the cost of manufacturers in both North America and Western Europe where production has fallen significantly. Other areas where production is increasing include South America, Eastern Europe and North Africa.
In terms of imports the US is easily the largest market, accounting for 15% of the world’s supply. Average consumption in the US is 6.5 pairs per person per year, compared with the global average of two pairs.
