Briefs
14 February 2005
Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina's Federal Office of Statistics reports that the production of leather and leather products in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2004 was 1.7% lower than in 2003. In comparison, the annual increase in overall industrial output in Bosnia-Herzegovina in 2004 was 13.2%. Ukraine Ukraine's State Statistics Committee reports that the production of leather and leather products in Ukraine in 2004 was 12.5% higher in value terms than in 2003. In comparison, the value of industrial output in Ukraine in 2004 was also 12.5% higher year-on-year. Croatia Croatia's National Statistics Bureau reports that the production of leather and leather products in Croatia in 2004 was 1.9% lower than in 2003. In comparison, overall industrial output in Croatia in 2004 was 3.7% higher year-on-year. Czech Republic The Czech Footwear Association reports that footwear production in the Czech Republic totalled only five million pairs in 2004 because of competition from imported Chinese-made footwear, according to the CTK news agency's Business News. China exported nearly 32 million pairs of footwear at an average price of just Kc50 (US$2.14) a pair to the Czech Republic in 2004. In comparison, in 2000, Czech footwear production totalled 13 million pairs, with footwear imports from China totalling 18.6 million pairs.