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event, generating a possible $8 million-worth of business. According to a report published by the Arab Brazilian News Agency (ANBA), deals worth $2.08 million were closed at the fair and another $6.3 million in business is forecast to be s
“globally known brand of footwear and accessories for the fashion, surf, travel, and medical industries”.
BRAZIL
A footwear manufacturer from China, UpTop, has applied to set up a new factory in the heartland of the industry in Brazil,
with 1000 pairs per day and 200 workers.
MEXICO
Mexico’s economy minister, Eduardo Sojo, has confirmed in a radio interview that a programme of economic aid the government is preparing to launch will include footwear as one of the
the money would be to construct modern business parks to house new and existing manufacturing firms.
GERMANY
German athletic footwear brand Puma has reported improved financial results for 2007 despite facing economic challeng
new organisers of the Midec footwear event in Paris have declared themselves satisfied with the latest edition of the Paris event in spite of the “special context” surrounding it. In a press statement they took a final swipe at the old organisi
e Coq Sportif has designed a new boot for the captain of Italy’s national rugby team, Sergio Parisse. The Number 8, who was actually born in Argentina, wore the new boots—called Puncher 2 Thaiti—for the first time in Italy’s Six Nations
angelo’s paintings there.
RUSSIA
The impressive delegation of Russian footwear buyers attending the Micam exhibition in Milan at the end of February stayed in Italy after the event. The inward investment agency for the traditional footw
t important for high-end Italian leather shoes in recent years.
SPAIN
The organisers of the spring edition of Madrid’s leather and footwear fairs, Sipiel and Modacalzado, said that the events went well, especially given that the last day, Sund
lower numbers on Sunday as buyers from Spain wanted to be at home to vote.
PAKISTAN
Although Pakistan’s footwear exports crept 0.27% higher month-on-month in January to reach $8.915 million, up from $8.891 million in the same
illion pairs worth $ 63.4 million, down from 8.6 million pairs worth $64.9 million in same period of the previous year.
BANGLADESH
With footwear demand growing at an estimated 20% a year in Bangladesh, important retail groups are
rkers in a factory in southern China who make footwear for Nike have been given a big increase in their salaries. According to reports that emerged after a press tour of the site hosted by Nike executives, the average wage in the Donggua
site, producing 14 million pairs of Nike shoes a year.
UNITED STATES
The maker of colourful plastic shoe brand Crocs has said that it has no intention of allowing retailer Costco to sell its products. “While there have been rumours and
to Costco.” He added that when Crocs had found instances of resellers supplying, it had ended its relationship with those customers.
CANADA
Italy’s National Institute of Statistics has confirmed strong growth in the two-way trade betwee
n leather footwear were up by 23%. Italy’s main imports from Canada were raw materials; in total, goods worth ?1.8 billion went from Canada into the Italian market last year.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
The first Expo Riva Middle East s
deals worth $2.08 million were closed at the fair and another $6.3 million in business is forecast to be sealed over the next 12 months.
AUSTRALIA
K-9 Concepts, Inc. has completed its acquisition of 100% of the outstanding membershi
cturer from China, UpTop, has applied to set up a new factory in the heartland of the industry in Brazil, Novo Hamburgo. The mayor of the city, Jair Foscarini, is analysing the proposal, which includes a request that the city authorities prov
t a programme of economic aid the government is preparing to launch will include footwear as one of the sectors to benefit. The budget for the programme will be around $50 million. The minister said half of this would go into a federal gov
ic footwear brand Puma has reported improved financial results for 2007 despite facing economic challenges, and says its outlook for this year remains positive. Currency-adjusted global brand sales grew more than 3% to reach
€
2.7 billio
spite of the “special context” surrounding it. In a press statement they took a final swipe at the old organising team for picking dates that sat just outside the collection of fashion events known as ‘Paris Capitale de la Création’, which yearly
ally born in Argentina, wore the new boots—called Puncher 2 Thaiti—for the first time in Italy’s Six Nations match in Paris against France in March. They have predominantly blue uppers to match Italy’s colours, but have an amazing desi
at the end of February stayed in Italy after the event. The inward investment agency for the traditional footwear manufacturing region of Le Marche has revealed that it invited the Russian delegation to travel south after the exhibition to
footwear fairs, Sipiel and Modacalzado, said that the events went well, especially given that the last day, Sunday, March 9, coincided with general elections in Spain. The opening day of the fairs, Friday, March 7 attracted 1,500 more visito
xports crept 0.27% higher month-on-month in January to reach $8.915 million, up from $8.891 million in the same month last year, the overall picture for the industry looks far from positive. According to the latest figures released by the F
LADESH
With footwear demand growing at an estimated 20% a year in Bangladesh, important retail groups are expanding across the country. Bata, which currently has 237 retail outlets in Bangladesh, has announced that it will open 40
o reports that emerged after a press tour of the site hosted by Nike executives, the average wage in the Dongguan factory—run by Hong Kong-based Yue Yuen Industrial and owned by Yue Yuen’s parent company, Pou Chen Group of Taiwa
aid that it has no intention of allowing retailer Costco to sell its products. “While there have been rumours and speculation that we are now selling our footwear to Costco, this is untrue,” said Ron Snyder, Crocs president and chief executi
omers
CANADA
Italy’s National Institute of Statistics has confirmed strong growth in the two-way trade between the country and Canada with leather footwear—along with wine—leading factors in the growth east-to-west The governm
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CHINA
Sources in China say sports brand adidas has
announced the closure of its only company-owned
sportswear factory in China. The closure of the facility
in Suzhou, in the south-east of Jiangsu Province close
to Shanghai, will take place later this year. More than
150 people work in the factory at the moment.
UNITED STATES
A new report from business information
service Bloomberg says prominent retail organisations in the US
are investing heavily in their footwear departments to capitalise on
consumers’ passion for shoes. Examples include the launch of
what is claimed to be the largest women’s shoe department in the
world at Macy’s flagship store in New York, a new floor dedicated
entirely to women’s shoes at Barneys New York and the roll-out to
more branches of a concept called 10022-SHOE that Saks recently
introduced to great acclaim. Retailers are rediscovering a love of
shoes, Bloomberg said, because sales per square-metre and
margins are better than those for other categories.
THAILAND
According to a report from Thailand’s Customs Department, the country’s total footwear exports declined
during the first six months of the year. Its shoe exports for the first half fell 18.7% to $380.72 million, with exports to its the US –
its largest footwear export destination 13.3% – falling 27.9%. Chanin Jitkomut, president of the Thai Footwear Association,
attributed the decline to lower demand from the US and EU and to competition from other Asian shoe manufacturing nations.
However, Mr Chanin said shipments to Asean countries, particularly Myanmar and Vietnam, have shown strong growth. This
has prompted some manufacturers to relocate their production sites.
INDIA
According to a report
from Assocham, the Indian
footwear industry is growing at a
compound annual growth rate of
15% and is likely to be worth
about 387 billion rupees ($6.9
billion) by 2015. Current turnover
is around 236 billion rupees. The
report attributed the growth to
growing footwear fashion
consciousness, increased
disposable income among India's
urban middle class and low
production costs. According to
the survey, buyers update their
shoe collections every two
months and spend between 6,000
and 8,000 rupees every four
months on branded footwear.
JAPAN
Japanese athletic,
business and casual
footwear company ABC-
Mart has entered into a
definitive agreement with
LaCrosse Footwear for
approximately $138 million.
The transaction is expected
to close during the third
quarter. Minoru Noguchi,
president of ABC-Mart, said:
“This transaction will bring
together the complementary
strengths of ABC-Mart’s
extensive knowledge in the
footwear retail industry with
LaCrosse Footwear’s high
quality footwear
manufacturing
craftsmanship.”
VIETNAM
Vietnam’s total exports for the first
half of 2012 are estimated to have had a value
of $53.1 billion. Leather footwear and
leathergoods contributed $4.3 billion to this
total, according to data released by the
country’s General Statistics Office. Over the six-
month period, Vietnam exported leather
footwear worth $3.5 billion.
BOLIVIA
Footwear
manufacturers in
Bolivia have
complained that
cheaper imports from
neighbouring Peru, as
well as those from
China, are harming their
businesses. In
comments in local
media, representatives
of the footwear
production sector have
said that imported
shoes from Peru are
40% cheaper than
locally made footwear,
while those from China
cost around 70% less.
NICARAGUA
Nicaragua
will attend the Magic
exhibition in Las Vegas
from August 20-23 with a
view to seeking investors
in the shoe industry in the
Central American country.
Inward investment agency
ProNicaragua is funding the
footwear firms’ trip to the
US. The executive director
of industry association
Anitec, Dean García, said:
“Our artisans are excellent
and already have
experience in making this
kind of product. We believe
it’s something we ought to
make more of, with the
added benefit that using
local raw materials will
bring. We need to make
more leather to add value
to our cattle industry.”