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CAMBODIA The Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC) has announced that a separate association would be formed by Cambodia’s footwear factories to better represent the industry and attract buyers and sellers. GMAC chairman Van Sou Ieng said that the initiative would allow footwear factories to act collectively in a similar manner to garment factories in GMAC, which already has three footwear factories as its members.

VIETNAM In the first half of this year, Vietnam’s footwear export turnover reached nearly $3 billion, up 31% over the same period last year. The number of export orders for this year has risen 20% over last year due to a sharp increase in bulk orders from importers.

CHINA Reports from Italy say high-end footwear brand Sergio Rossi intends to buy out its franchise partners in five major boutiques in China and run the stores itself. The company said it wanted to increase sales in China and had decided to integrate into its main retail business the five stores, two in Beijing and one each in Shanghai, Ningbo and Shenzhen. The announcement has come hot on the heels of a decision by the Chinese government to cut import duties on luxury goods, including shoes.

UNITED STATES US athletic apparel and footwear firm Nike announced on 27 June 2011 that its fourth quarter profit rose 14% from last year, as higher sales and better expense management helped offset lower gross margins. The company reported net income for the fourth quarter of $594 million compared to $522 million for the year-ago quarter.

ARGENTINA Horacio Moschetto, Secretary of the Argentine Footwear Chamber (CIC) has stated that, in 2010, the number of high quality shoes exported by Argentina to Japan increased by 13% over 2009. The CIC forms part of the country’s Multi Sector Mission (MCM) to China and Japan. Mr Moschetto forecast that “to continue this trend, exports to Japan this year would have to close at more than half a million dollars with an average price of $40 per pair”.

“The Japanese market is extremely demanding and looks for the latest products,” he said. “In fact exports of Argentina footwear were almost all exclusive products made from leather.”

AUSTRALIA More than 60 Australian footwear and clothing companies will receive their share of a $2.7 million (A$2.5 million) government funding boost to upgrade their manufacturing and management processes. The funding is part of the government’s Textile, Clothing and Footwear (TCF) Small Business Program, offering businesses grants between $15,000 and $50,000, depending on eligibility. “We have more than 45,000 people employed in the TCF industries. It is an integral part of our manufacturing sector,” said innovation minister, Senator Kim Carr.