Sales turnover for the German shoe industry fell 3.8% to just under €3 billion in 2003, the country’s footwear industry association HDS (Hauptverband der Deutschen Schuhindustrie) has advised.

In a statement issued at the recent GDS footwear fair in Düsseldorf, the association reported a 6.2% decline in domestic sales during the year to €2.1 billion, while exports rose 2.2% to €900.  In volume terms, sales were down by an estimated 6.2 million pairs on the year before, to 27 million pairs, while the number of footwear factories was reduced from 127 at the end of 2002 to 109 by December 31 ‘03   Employment in the sector fell from 15,777 to 13,696. 

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