Italian shoes are famous worldwide. Indeed, Italy exports a large amount of shoes, accounting for a value of over eight billion euros. Figures show that the export value of Italian shoes has been growing in recent years, even if theexport volume decreased slightly. Leather shoes account for the highest value. In fact, the Italian leather industry represents another outstanding sector for the country: Italy is the main exporter of leather goods in the world. In terms of value, Italy heads the ranking, followed by the United States and Brazil.
Also, Italy ranks among the main global footwear importers in terms of volume. In 2019, the estimated value of shoe imports added up to over five billion euros. Chronological data show that the imports have been growing in both value and volume. Italy mainly imports from Europe and Asia. The most valuable shoes come from Switzerland: on average, a pair of Swiss shoes is imported for 126 euros. Moreover, the United Kingdom and Hungary follow in the ranking, exporting shoes to Italy for around 40 euros a pair. The cheapest shoes among the main importers come from China and Slovenia.
Renowned footwear brands from Italy include Geox, Prada, Salvatore Ferragamo, Tod's, Fendi and others. In total, there are over four thousand companies in the Italian shoe industry. Generally, such brands produce not only footwear but also clothing. However, some of these brands are mainly known for their shoes. For instance, almost 90 percent of Geox revenues are generated by footwear sales. Similarly, the selling of footwear contributes to over 40 percent of Salvatore Ferragamo's revenues, whereas only a small percentage comes from the apparel sector. For Prada, the share of sales is more equally distributed: clothing and footwear account for 40 percent of company revenue.
