More incentives aim to reduce downturns in foreign trade, and the shoe industry has shown this through active participation in internationalization efforts conducted last year. A total of 353 companies joined the plan coordinated by the Federation of the Footwear Industry (FICE) to push exports. This represents a 17% rise from the prior year, even as national exports declined by 1.5% through October.
Rosana Perán, president of FICE and the European Footwear Confederation, noted that the participation figures in the promotion plan demonstrate a clear commitment to internationalize, even as the sector anticipates a slowdown in 2024. She highlighted that the 17% growth mirrors the pre-pandemic level of 2019 and stressed that the industry remains 28% below its peak. She described the trend as positive, pointing to ongoing participation in international shoe fairs despite inflation pressures and reduced consumer spending, which she views as a sign of sector resilience.
Perán explained that after record exports in 2022, with value at 3,058 million euros and volume at 159 million pairs, sales slowed in 2023. He predicted that the year would show fewer exported pairs than in 2022, reflecting the slowdown in the second half of 2023 and a further decline in 2024.
Imanol Martínez, FICE Marketing Director, added that the most recent data show footwear exports for the first nine months reaching 2,506.5 million euros and 122.8 million pairs. This marks an 8.2% rise in value but a 1.5% drop in quantity compared with the same period in 2022.
Perán pointed out that ICEX contributed 480 thousand euros to the sector through the 2023 shoe sector plan, signed by the two organizations. The plan was fully executed and benefited 250 companies.
The federation also notes that about a dozen companies engaged in a global project under the InnovationA initiative, coordinated by FICE, which ran from 2020 to 2023. Some 600,000 euros were invested in projects to boost innovation and digitalization, with ICEX covering half of that funding.
The employers’ association stresses that within the ICEX Brexit Programme, which supports Spanish exporters, it helps offset unexpected costs tied to positioning, consolidation, and implementation resulting from the UK withdrawal. The European Union channel and the United Kingdom received a total of 340,000 euros for the footwear sector.
Major international events
Italy remains a leading destination for Spanish footwear and hosts two premier sector fairs. Accordingly, FICE coordinated the participation of 161 companies in two editions of the Micam fair in Milan, the industry’s largest showcase. In contrast, 86 exhibitors attended both Expo Riva Schuh events in Riva del Garda, a key fair for bulk footwear.
Nearly 70 participants joined the double event in Shoes Düsseldorf, Germany, the third major purchasing market for Spanish shoes. This fair has become essential for brands selling in Germany.
The United States is the first market outside the European Union and a strategic focus for the federation. The sector plan supports the Coterie & Magic NY fair, a major fashion event on the east coast, with 20 companies taking part.
Meanwhile, the UK market is a priority due to significant declines in exports tied to Brexit. Companies taking part in fashion events there receive support to aid recovery, with 20 firms benefiting.
The Spanish Institute of Foreign Trade, in coordination with FICE, organized Spain Shoes showroom events in Tokyo, Seoul, and Sydney during July, with more than 30 companies involved overall.
ICEX fully coordinated and funded two Spanish shoe advertisements. During the August Shoes Düsseldorf event, 36 brands were featured in the German trade press Schuhkurier, while a second feature appeared in the United States publications Footwear News, highlighting the 24 brands exporting to the U.S.
Additionally, shoe companies benefit from other ICEX programs, including support for annual JOOR B2B fashion platform subscriptions and promotional campaigns on Zalando (B2C).