Pakistani footwear exports in growing mode
The Asian country's footwear exports grew significantly from July through October 2022 (by 82% in volume and by 31%, year-over-year), while leather exports lag behind
According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), in the first four months of the current fiscal year*, leather manufacturers' exports totalled 212.5 million US dollars, which reflects an increase of only 2.7%, on a comparable basis to the same period of last year.
Additionally, in this period, Pakistani tanners shipped 4.5 million square-metres of finished leather, worth 59.8 million US dollars. These figures indicate a decline of 7.5% in volume and 3.2% in value, as compared to the similar four-month period of fiscal 2021-2022.
Footwear
From July to October 2022, Pakistan shipped a total of 9.68 million pairs of shoes, generating a revenue of 62.5 million US dollars, up by 82.3% in volume and 31.1% in value, on a comparable basis to the first four months of the prior fiscal year.Leather footwear exports represent roughly 82% of the total value exported. Thus, in these four months, the country shipped 3.5 million pairs of shoes, worth 51.2 million US dollars, which reflects an increase of 53.6% and 31.6% in volume and value, respectively, as compared to the same period of fiscal 2021-2022.
The remaining segments, canvas footwear and other footwear, also recorded substantial increases in the referred period. Pakistan exported 48 thousand pairs of canvas footwear, worth 293 thousand US dollars (up by 392.3% in volume and 414.2% in value, year-over-year), and 6.2 million pairs of other footwear, which amounted to 11.0 million US dollars (up by 102.8% in volume and 26.1% in value, year-over-year).
Pakistani Footwear Industry
According to the World Footwear 2022 Yearbook (more information available HERE), the Pakistan footwear industry is the 7th largest in the world, employing some one million people in the country, mostly in Punjab province. Largely directed to the domestic market, it finds in the US and Europe and Arab countries its main destination markets. China is Pakistan's main supplier.*Pakistan's fiscal year runs from July to June.
Image Credits: ictsi.com