The Development of the Global Shoe Industry
Market News

The Development of the Global Shoe Industry

The global production chain is constantly shifting, and so is the shoe industry. How should the trend of the shoe industry develop in the future?
Published: May 14, 2021
The Development of the Global Shoe Industry

After the epidemic, in 2021, global consumption power will gradually rise, various sports events will restart, and the footwear industry is booming. Nike and Adidas sales and store opening rates have recovered. From Taiwan's shoe materials and shoe factories, they have successively announced the first-quarter profit observations. All are good. The industry predicts that global sports shoe market demand will rebound steadily in 2021, and operations this year are optimistic. However, the appreciation of the New Taiwan Dollar in 2020 will cause the footwear industry to draw a lot of foreign exchange losses and interfere with profit performance. Whether the trend of the exchange rate of the New Taiwan Dollar in 2021 will affect the footwear industry again is worth observing.

Economic activities in various countries return to normal and economic stimulus programs, Nike and Adidas inventories are slowly falling, gross profit margins have rebounded, and orders placed on the supply chain will gradually return to normal. Nike is still optimistic about the future. As for Taiwanese suppliers, Winterthur’s revenue from Nike is more than 8% as the main beneficiary, while Baocheng and Baihe’s revenue contribution from Nike is 20-30% and 20-25% respectively. In 2021, Adidas' performance will return to normal and its gross profit margin will rebound. It has proposed a plan for the next five years. It is estimated that its annual revenue will grow by 8-10%, which will also positively help the supply chain.

According to statistics, the total global footwear production in 2017 reached 23.5 billion pairs, an annual increase of 2%, 87% concentrated in Asian manufacturing, and China continues to occupy 57.5% of the world’s largest footwear producer, with India and Vietnam And Indonesia are also listed as the world's top four footwear producing countries. Taiwan has gradually transformed and upgraded from a major shoe-making center to a purchasing center for raw materials management.
In terms of the consumer market, Asia is not only the production center of the global footwear industry but also the largest consumer market, accounting for approximately 54% of the total global footwear consumption in 2017. China, India, and the United States are the world’s top three footwear consumptions respectively. Countries, among which India surpassed the United States for the first time and became the world's second-largest shoe consumer country, reflecting economic trends and its huge population advantage.

According to the survey report, the sales of the global footwear market will increase by more than US$278 billion in 2025, with a compound annual growth rate of 3%. Expanding product categories and penetrating emerging markets are the main key factors; and the global sports shoe market the scale is estimated to exceed USD 95 billion in 2025, with a compound annual growth rate of up to 5%. In addition to continuing to strengthen the functionality of sports shoes, major sports brands also continue to innovate and diversify their products to expand the target market of sports shoes to non-sports groups. The sports shoe market is expected to maintain steady growth in the future.

ASEAN countries are factories and markets

Although ASEAN is still regarded as a factory country at present, most manufacturers mainly set up production bases. However, the huge population and rapidly rising middle class of the ten ASEAN countries will follow the pace of China's first-tier cities and become domestic demand in the future. Countries with active markets. In 2014, among the ASEAN countries, Vietnam, Singapore, and Indonesia ranked the top three in terms of total imports, and among them, Vietnam grew the fastest. In other words, Vietnam is both the main shoe exporter and the main importer of the ASEAN countries. The scale of imports grew rapidly from US$407 million in 2013, and broke the US$1 billion mark in 2014, more than doubled.

Taiwan Footwear Industry

Subdividing the top three countries of the ASEAN countries for the import source of footwear products, it can be found that China is the largest, accounting for an average of more than 50% of the share. Taiwan ranks fourth in Vietnam, which is very close to South Korea. The real situation is that the proportion of Taiwan's exports to Vietnam has shown a trend of the declining year by year. This will lead to such reasons. In addition to some part of the production base relocation, another part of the reason still comes from the low-price competition in China and other emerging countries.

Published by May 14, 2021 Source :chinatimes, Source :ctee

Further reading

You might also be interested in ...

Headline
Market News
Engineering Plastics for 5G EMI Shielding and Thermal Control
The global rollout of 5G technology has been a catalyst for rethinking the materials used in next-generation devices. Unlike previous mobile generations, 5G relies heavily on millimeter wave (mmWave) frequencies, which offer faster data speeds but are more vulnerable to interference. With escalating demands for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding and thermal regulation in compact, high-frequency environments, advanced plastics are becoming the backbone of 5G infrastructure. Taiwan manufacturers are engineering high-performance polymers that meet the complex requirements of these modern telecommunications.
Headline
Market News
Breakthroughs in Flash and DRAM Efficiency and Heat Management: Taiwan’s Push Toward Cooler, Smarter Memory
As the demand for high-performance computing, AI, and data-intensive applications grows, the need for efficient and thermally optimized memory solutions becomes paramount. As system-on-chip (SoC) architectures evolve and Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) workloads surge, the need for efficient memory and reliable heat management is more critical than ever. Recent breakthroughs in flash and DRAM technologies are not only enhancing performance but also addressing critical heat management challenges. Taiwan, a global leader in semiconductor manufacturing, is at the forefront of these innovations.
Headline
Market News
Smart Labeling in Advanced Packaging Machines: Driving Traceability, Customization, and Efficiency
As packaging lines embrace greater automation and data integration, smart labeling has become a vital component of packaging systems. While AI vision systems enhance visual inspection and quality control, smart labeling technologies help manage data, ensure compliance, enhance traceability, and enable real-time customization in the packaging process.
Headline
Market News
Advanced Package Filling Machines with AI Vision Systems: A Modern Solution for Precision Packaging
Package Filling Machines integrated with AI Vision Systems offer advanced solutions for efficiently packaging food and powdered substances into precise, small-format packets. These food-grade systems combine mechanical precision with artificial intelligence to ensure quality, regulatory compliance, and high productivity.
Headline
Market News
Optical Lenses for AR/VR and Smart Devices: Taiwan’s Strategic Tech Advantage
As augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and smart devices redefine how we interact with the digital world, one component lies at the heart of this transformation: the optical lens. These precision-engineered components enable everything from immersive simulations to advanced camera features and real-time data overlays. In this rapidly expanding sector, Taiwan has established itself as a strategic global hub for innovation, manufacturing, and partnership. With decades of expertise in optics, a robust high-tech supply chain, and strategic integration with the semiconductor and display industries, Taiwan is not only keeping pace with demand—it’s helping to shape the future of visual technology.
Headline
Market News
New Developments in 6G Infrastructure and Antenna Hardware
As the global race toward 6G intensifies, Taiwan is positioning itself at the forefront of next-generation wireless infrastructure and antenna hardware innovation. Building upon its robust semiconductor and telecommunications sectors, Taiwan is investing in advanced research and development to meet the demands of 6G, which promises ultra-high-speed connectivity, low latency, and seamless integration across diverse applications, from smart cities to autonomous vehicles.
Headline
Market News
Carbon Fiber Innovations: Lightweighting for Aerospace, Bikes, and Automotive Applications
Carbon fiber has become a key material in modern engineering, renowned for its exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and versatility. These properties make it indispensable in industries where performance and efficiency are paramount, such as aerospace, cycling, and automotive manufacturing. With its strong manufacturing base and innovation, Taiwan has emerged as a global leader in carbon fiber production.
Headline
Market News
Latest Advances in Solid-State Li-ion Battery Technology from Taiwan’s R&D Hubs
Solid-state batteries (SSBs) are set to have a massive impact on the electric vehicle (EV) market because they store more energy, charge faster, and are safer than standard liquid lithium-ion batteries. However, due to challenges such as material behavior, battery microstructure, short service life, and cracking caused by thermal expansion and contraction, their design still faces many obstacles. With major automotive and battery manufacturers competing to mass-produce SSBs for EVs, the global solid-state battery market is projected to grow from $85 million in 2023 to over $960 million by 2030.
Headline
Market News
The Rise of Digital Twins in Smart Manufacturing and Factory Design in Taiwan
Taiwan is rapidly emerging as a global leader in smart manufacturing, with digital twin technology at the forefront of this transformation. By creating virtual replicas of physical systems, digital twins enable manufacturers to simulate, monitor, and optimize operations in real time. This innovation is not only revolutionizing factory design, enhancing efficiency, and reducing downtime, but also fostering innovation across various sectors—opening new avenues for investment and business development in Taiwan’s industrial landscape.
Headline
Market News
Why Global Brands Are Investing in Taiwanese CNC and Precision Tooling Suppliers
As the global manufacturing sector regains momentum following recent supply chain disruptions and economic slowdowns, multinational companies are re-evaluating where and how they source their machinery. Taiwan—once viewed as a mid-tier supplier—is now emerging as a strategic investment destination for global brands seeking high-precision CNC machining, tooling innovation, and smart manufacturing integration. With projections of double-digit growth for 2025 following a temporary downturn, Taiwan’s machine tool sector is proving its resilience and global competitiveness. As demand for automation, customization, and advanced manufacturing solutions intensifies, more international buyers are shifting their attention - and capital - toward Taiwan’s CNC and precision tooling ecosystem.
Headline
Market News
Taiwan's Strategic Shift Toward Smart Manufacturing: Opportunities for Global Buyers and Local Innovators
As global industries increasingly embrace automation, digitalization, and sustainable production, Taiwan has emerged as a leader in this new wave of industrial transformation. Building on its strong foundation in traditional manufacturing—and accelerated by national initiatives like "Taiwan Industry 4.0"—Taiwanese manufacturers are rapidly upgrading their capabilities, creating exciting opportunities for both global buyers and local innovators.
Headline
Market News
3D Printers: Revolutionizing Prototyping and Manufacturing
3D printing technology has revolutionized the way industries approach manufacturing, especially when it comes to prototyping. Before its introduction, the process of creating prototypes was often time-consuming, costly, and resource-intensive. Traditional methods involved manual machining or molding, which required significant lead times and extensive human labor. With the arrival of 3D printers, designers and engineers found an efficient solution to rapidly create physical models from digital designs. This innovation allowed for faster iteration and improved communication between teams, ultimately speeding up the development cycle and reducing costs. Over time, 3D printing has not only enhanced prototype creation but has also expanded into full-scale manufacturing, enabling new possibilities for production across various industries.
Agree