Upcoming Trade Shows in Germany for Shoes

COVID-19 dealt a significant blow to Germany’s shoes manufacturing industry, from which the industry is still figuring out how to best recover. Progress has been slow given the many structural challenges facing the sector, even if demand for footwear is on the rise again. Despite the economic disruptions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and intensifying global competition, the industry has managed to achieve moderate growth. Over the past five years, annual sales have increased by an average of 1.3%. Sports shoes and sneakers continue to fuel the sector's momentum and most certainly benefited from a shift in consumer habits toward healthier and more active lifestyles. The number of consumers, who have picked up running as a hobby has increased by a wide margin following the pandemic lockdowns. Demand for these products proved resilient during the pandemic and is expected to remain strong in the years ahead. In contrast, sales of leather shoes, especially in the men’s and women’s fashion categories, experienced sharp declines during the height of lockdowns and have yet to fully recover. Germany’s shoes industry remains a leader in the production of safety footwear, a niche that supports consistent export activity. However, the sector is increasingly vulnerable to fluctuations in the exchange rate and foreign competition. Imports from China and Vietnam continue to exert downward pressure on prices, especially in the mass market and lower-priced segments. Meanwhile, German brands in the premium category face tough competition from neighboring European producers, notably in Italy. Some experts are still somewhat worried about market contraction, but by all early predictions the industry is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 1.6% from 2024 to 2029. But it remains to be seen how the implementation of the Supply Chain Sustainability Act will affect manufacturers going forward.