Declines in Italy’s Footwear Sector Drag Growth in Q1

BJ Desk

Italy’s footwear industry suffered a notable downturn in the first quarter of 2025, with both domestic turnover and exports contracting amid weak global demand and geopolitical headwinds.

According to industry group Assocalzaturifici, turnover declined 7% year‑on‑year, while exports in value terms fell by 4.1% despite a slight volume increase of 2.5%, indicating pricing pressures across key international markets.

Exports to non‑EU regions saw sharper declines. China recorded a 27.5% drop in value, Japan dropped 33.5% in volume, and South Korea also suffered double‑digit losses. In contrast, strong performances in markets such as the UAE (+16.8%), Turkey (+21%), and Switzerland provided limited offset.

Domestically, footwear sales remained stagnant: sneakers posted modest gains (+1.7%), while men’s, women’s and children’s shoes declined by roughly 3%.

Regionally, only Lombardy posted growth (+5.9%), while major manufacturing areas like Veneto (−10.6%), Emilia‑Romagna (−12.3%), and Tuscany (−20.1%) saw significant declines in orders and shipments.

Industry watchers point to ongoing global consumption softness, U.S. tariff uncertainty, and geopolitical tensions as enduring headwinds. The domestic slowdown underscores fragility in both foreign and home markets.