Sector
Key Facts and Figures
European shoes are recognised worldwide as a distinctive symbol of traditional values combined with high quality products.
The best indicator is the value of exports in 2019: 9 out of top 15 exporters are European i.e. Italy (3rd), Germany (4th), Belgium (6th), France (7th), Netherlands (8th), Spain (9th), United Kingdom (12th), Poland (13th), Portugal (15h).
EU exports to third countries have increased by 51% in quantity and 147% in value from 2009 until 2019.
Italy, France and Portugal accounted for 21% of global leather footwear exports in 2019.
In 2018, the European Footwear Sector (EU28) was represented by 19.856 companies and 260.309 direct employees.
As regards continental flows, intra-European trade represents one third of the world footwear trade.
Employment data in EU28
Source: Eurostat, February 2021