According to the China Leather Industry Association (CLIA), footwear exports from the northwest provinces have been increasing rapidly. The largest province in the west, Xinjiang, exported shoes worth $963 million in 2006, up 8.9% compared with 2005 exports.

Official statistics show that the unit price of shoes exported has also risen with consumers in the mid-Asian countries demanding better quality shoes in accordance with improved standards of living. The average unit price of shoes from Xinjiang amounted to just $2.83 in 2004 but rose to $4.33 in 2006, and product offerings have now been extended beyond the typical sport and plastic shoes.

CLIA also said that approximately 80% of shoes imported by Kazakhstan and Russia—both of whom import around 98% of their footwear—are from China.

In order to reduce production costs, the government in Xinjiang has suggested that shoe manufacturers move plants nearer to borders, or transport semi-finished shoes to Xinjiang from other provinces.

Production of footwear components such as heels, soles and uppers is also increasing.