Imports
China enters the top 10 of footwear importers
The Asian country is the number one producer and exporter of footwear in the world and holds the position of indisputable leader. Last year, China made its debut as one of the main footwear importers. Data is taken from the World Footwear 2021 Yearbook released by APICCAPS, the Portuguese Footwear Association. The publication gives you the most complete picture of the footwear industry
2020: a dark year for the footwear industry but better than the worst forecasts
In 2020 footwear production and exports fell by 15.8% and 19% respectively. Data are taken from the World Footwear 2021 Yearbook just released by APICCAPS, the Portuguese Footwear Association. Previous forecasts were gloomier, and the World Footwear Experts Panel had pointed to a drop in global footwear consumption in 2020 of more than 20%. Final numbers for 2020 in the developed countries of Europe and North America are in line with such expectations. However, Asia and less developed countries outperformed expectations thus supporting a lower plunge in the global footwear industry
Japan Retail: No Olympic medal for retail sales
June started with some good perspectives as consumer morale in the Japanese market was the strongest in 16 months. However, the retailer’s sentiment is not accompanying, and a new State of Emergency in Tokyo is not promising good news. The Apparel & Accessories (including footwear) Retail Sales Index also suffered from less consumer confidence after March. And with no international visitors going to Japan to attend the Olympics, recovery chances of the retail industry will definitely be impacted
UK Retail: Anticipating a new Retail Normalcy
With the seasonally adjusted TCF (Textile, Clothing & Footwear) Retail Sales Index successfully resuming the 2018 baseline, a new Retail Normalcy is anticipated. Importers, on their side, have well sensed since February that retail was about to reignite, as depicted by the increase in the monthly footwear imports. As the vaccination process evolves favourably in the UK, Consumer Confidence in the country seems to be unstoppable
Brazilian footwear industry concerned with possible FTA Mercosur-Vietnam-Indonesia
The local association is concerned with the idea of carrying out an unrestricted trade opening for foreign products, with the reduction of the tariffs on imports. The possibility to have an FTA with Vietnam and Indonesia is already in the process of public consultation
How is COVID-19 impacting footwear retail in different countries?
With the world fast approaching 180 million cases of infected people and with vaccination now in place in several countries, we bring a summary of our latest Flash Reports focused on some key markets
Japan Retail: too early to be excited about retail
After a year of underperforming, the Retail Index for Apparel & Accessories managed to overcome the figures of the previous year in March 2021. Notwithstanding, importers do not seem yet convinced that this is a sustained recovery. The good news, as in other countries, comes from confidence indicators, with consumers seem to drive away from pessimism. However, all seems too fragile yet and it might mean that it is too early to get excited with retail in Japan
Germany Retail: After some successful months, retail took a massive hit by the end of 2020
After the initial hit back in the first months of 2020, the impact of the pandemic in German retail sales seemed to be manageable for most of the year. However, in the last two months of 2020 the plot of the story changed, and with strength. As in other geographies, the bad news for the offline channels has been accompanied by good news for the online. Will this be enough? Most people believe it will not. The good news seems to come from the confidence indicators: consumer pessimism seems to be fading away. And retailers seem to follow. Will confidence beat COVID-19?
Argentina applies labelling standards for all footwear entering the country
The Government of Argentina announced the measure will be applicable for companies importing any type of footwear to Argentina. Importers will have to adapt to the new standard called "AR" and which relates to the size of the shoes
Spain Retail: depressed retail and online sales gaining share
The TCF retail Sales Index in Spain is showing some resistance to getting back to the pre-pandemic levels, even if some recovery took place over the second half of 2020. One positive sign seems to come from internet retail, which is gaining share since September 2020. The concern raises as this is being done at the expenses of physical retail. If one needs hope and goods news, those might come from some relative optimism from the consumer side, which might be followed by the retailers. The next few months will be key to see if they persist
Italian and Spanish footwear risk additional taxes in the US market
The Digital Services Taxes (DST) and the reaction of the US with the threat to implement tariffs to products coming from 6 US trading partners are the hot topic at the moment in the footwear industry. Today we look into what that means for Italy and Spain
How are Italy and Spain reacting to the threat?
The announcement made by the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on the 26th March regarding the next steps in its Section 301 investigations of Digital Service Taxes (DSTs) adopted or under consideration by several US trading partners made the alarm sound for Spain and Italy
Matt Priest: we are 100% against the duties
We spoke with the President & CEO of the Footwear Distributors & Retailers of America to go over the topic of the moment: the US threat of duties on footwear imported from Spain, Italy and the UK
Trading footwear with the UK: are you familiar with the EU-UK deal?
Just before Christmas, people and businesses from both sides of the English Channel breathed in relief: a BREXIT deal had been achieved. Almost immediately, many questions arose regarding the new procedures to move goods between the two parties. Are you familiar with the new deal? Learn more today
Brazil: two digits decline in production and exports in 2020
According to data released by Abicalçados, the Brazilian footwear sector may have lost 21.8% of its production in 2020, returning to levels registered 16 years ago. Brazilian footwear exports fell by 18.6%, the worst performance since 1983-
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