Global shoe production remained largely unchanged in 2025. According to the new "World Footwear Yearbook 2026," a total of 24,6 billion pairs were manufactured. This represents a slight increase of 0,1 percent compared to the previous year. Production figures for 2024 have been revised upwards and now show growth of almost ten percent.
The volume of international footwear trade declined slightly by 0,1 percent in 2025. In contrast, the value of global exports rose by 1,6 percent to US$172 billion. The yearbook is published by the Portuguese footwear association Apiccaps.
Production remains focused on Asia
Asia dominates global shoe manufacturing with a share of 88,7 percent. China remains by far the most important production location, with 13,7 billion pairs and a global market share of 55,6 percent.
India solidified its second-place position with three billion pairs, or 12,2 percent. Vietnam increased its production to 1,7 billion pairs, achieving a share of 6,7 percent. Outside of Asia, only two countries, Brazil and Mexico, are represented among the ten largest shoe producers. Brazil accounts for 3,4 percent, and Mexico for 0,9 percent.
Asia is also gaining importance as a sales market.
In addition to production, consumption is also increasingly shifting to Asia. By 2025, the continent already accounted for 56 percent of global shoe consumption. China remained the largest national market with 4,8 billion pairs, followed by India with 2,8 billion and the USA with 1,95 billion pairs.
However, there are significant regional differences in per capita consumption. In North America, an average of 4,6 pairs were purchased per person, in Europe 4,1 pairs. In Africa, the figure was only 1,6 pairs.
Vietnam gains export share
China remains by far the largest shoe exporter. The country exported around nine billion pairs in 2025. However, its share of global export volume fell from 69,1 to 61,2 percent within ten years.
Among the biggest beneficiaries of this development is Vietnam, whose export share now stands at 11,2 percent. In Europe, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands play a significant role, primarily as logistics and re-export hubs. Germany ranks fourth worldwide in export volume.
The average export price recovered to US$11,65 per pair in 2025. However, this remained below the record high of US$11,96 from 2023. Significant regional differences exist: while European exports averaged US$34,76 per pair, the figure for Asia was US$8,02.
The "World Footwear Yearbook" has been published since 2011 and is now in its 16th edition. The publication analyzes production, consumption, and imports and exports of the global footwear industry and includes country profiles for 84 markets.
