South African safety footwear manufacturers under threat

27/04/2004

A representative from the South African safety footwear manufacturer, United Fram Footwear (FRAMS), has said that unless imported footwear is made to comply with the South Africa Bureau of Standards’ regulations, the country could lose its three most prominent safety and industrial footwear manufacturers.

 

FRAMS’ divisional managing director, Jeff Burland, said that as well as FRAMS, Bagshaw Footwear in Port Elizabeth and Beier Footwear in Pinetown were all at risk from competition from Chinese footwear importers.

 

According to statistics from the South African Footwear and Leather Industries Association, the country’s imports from China totalled 78.3 pairs during 2003 – an increase of 293% compared with 2000. Over the past four years, South Africa’s footwear production has declined 42% to 18 million pairs.