According to statistics released by the Ministry of Commerce in the first eight months of 2005 China exported 4.68 billion pairs of footwear, worth $12.07 billion.

This equates to a 18.2% rise in terms of volume a 26.3% increase in value. The average export price, per pair, also increased by 6.6% to $ 2.58.

In the eight-month period China exported 2.65 billion pairs of plastic and rubber shoes worth $ 4.59 billion, up 18% in volume and 22.1% in value compared with the same period in 2004. 920 million pairs of leather shoes were exported worth $5.32 billion, a rise of 20.7% in volume and 29.3% in terms of value.

The US, EU, Japan and Hong Kong remained the key importers of Chinese-made.

The EU became the second largest importing region importing 690 million pairs of shoes worth $2.16 billion, a 16.9% increase in terms of volume and 45% in value compared with the first eight months of 2004. According to the Ministry of Commerce, China’s shoe exports to the EU accounted for 17.9% of its total footwear exports.

The China Leather Industry Association (CLIA) also remarked that the export of leather shoes to the EU increased significantly. In the first eight months 130 million pairs of leather shoes were exported to the EU worth $830 million, an increase of 86.4% in quantity and 89.9% in value. During the same period China also exported footwear accessories worth $400 million.