There is one encouraging datapoint for Italian footwear: a 1.1% increase in turnover in the last quarter of a very tough 2025. This result comes after nine consecutive quarters of decline. However, there are figures that point to a worrying trend for the sector. Domestic production reached a record low of 118.3 million pairs (-5.5% compared to 2024), which led to company closures and job losses.

A very tough 2025

According to the economic report by the Confindustria Accessori Moda Research Center for Assocalzaturifici, preliminary figures for 2025 indicate a turnover of €12.84 billion for the footwear sector, down 2.8% compared to 2024. “The sector has been able to manage its losses, showing the first (timid) signs of a possible turnaround at the end of the year”, explains Giovanna Ceolini, president of Assocalzaturifici. She interprets the +1.1% growth in the October-December period as an “encouraging sign that we are starting to climb back up the slope”.

Exports

Exports are expected to reach €11.5 billion, down 1.1% on 2024. The data highlights Europe’s resilience, vigorous growth in the Middle East, and a worrying slowdown in the Far East, particularly China. Finally, there is uncertainty in the US market. The domestic market is stable, with the sports shoe sector shining brightly, unaffected by the crisis: it’s the only sector that has managed to grow and exceed 2019 levels.

Sour notes

The sour notes come from the heart of the sector: the factories. Yet another decline in production volumes has caused a further loss of companies and jobs. In 2025, 173 shoe factories and 2,500 jobs disappeared. The use of layoffs fell by 6.2% compared to 2024, but remains at critical levels. The more than 33.8 million hours authorized in the leather supply chain are four times those of 2019. 2026? Interim and stable: growth is postponed until 2027. According to a survey of member companies, only 13% of them expect growth in turnover in the first half of 2026. Fifty-two percent expect stability.