For the second consecutive month, Spanish shoe exports experienced a decline compared to the corresponding periods in the previous year and pre-COVID-19 crisis. Despite an overall growth in the value of foreign shoe sales, possibly driven by the prevailing high inflation, there was a notable decrease in quantity in the last month. Particularly noteworthy were the declines in sales in vital markets for the national sector, such as Germany (ranking as the third-largest buyer of Spanish shoes globally) and the US, which witnessed a 17.3% reduction in market share within a year.
According to data from the General Directorate of Customs, Spanish footwear companies, between January and October 2023, exported slightly over 134.4 million pairs of shoes, amounting to a total value of 2,750.6 million euros. In comparison to the same period in 2022, footwear exports registered a 1.7% decline in quantity and a 6.6% increase in value. The primary buyers in terms of value were France (+8.7%), Italy (+21.1%), Germany (-3%), Portugal (+14.2%), and Poland (+25.4%). The average price per pair sold abroad during this period was 20.5 euros.
However, when contrasting these figures with the first ten months of 2019, before the onset of the coronavirus crisis, Spanish footwear exports experienced a marginal 0.6% decrease in quantity. In terms of value, there was a substantial 19.2% surge.
Turning to imports, between January and October of the current year, Spain imported 272.3 million pairs of shoes from abroad, amounting to a total value of 3,819.3 million euros. Footwear imports saw a 3.7% decline in quantity compared to the same period in 2022 but increased by 3.7% in value. The primary footwear suppliers, in terms of value, were China (-6.3%), Vietnam (+27.6%), Italy (+1.2%), France (+35%), and Indonesia (+29.4%). The average price per pair purchased abroad during the first ten months of 2023 was 14 euros.
When compared to the figures from January to October 2019, footwear imports exhibited a 2.2% decrease in quantity but a substantial 34.3% increase in value.
