The economic environment remains critical, and no one denies it. Assocalzaturifici’s report on the first half of 2026 shows that turnover in the Italian footwear sector fell by 2.3%, while production declined by 6.7% and the number of active companies by 4.7%. But the document also highlights two positive signals. Certainly, not enough to say that the worst is behind us, but enough to recognise that the sector is responding to the crisis with its own quality and resilience. Because despite the decline in exports, the trade balance is growing (+9.6%), thanks to “its positioning and international outlook”, as Assocalzaturifici president Giovanna Ceolini points out. And because domestic consumption is growing again (+2%) after three years.
The economic picture
Export levels, according to the figures compiled by the Confindustria Accessori Moda Study Centre, are declining. Looking at the data for the first five months of the year in this case, the balance stands at EUR 4.77 billion (-2.4% year-on-year). All the main destinations are in negative territory: USA -5.2%, Middle East -34%, Russia -24.6%, Far East -1.6%. The only countertrend is the European Union (+2%), driven above all by France (+4.3%). As mentioned, the sluggishness of exports is reflected in production and, consequently, in the structure of the supply chain. Just as active companies have been lost across both industry and craft businesses, the number of employees is also declining: 3,065 jobs have been lost (-4.5%).
Two positive signals
The first is that the trade balance has confirmed its growth, up 9.6% to EUR 2.16 billion. The second is that the domestic market has interrupted a long sequence of negative results with a modest rebound, driven by women’s footwear (+4%) and sports footwear (+1.5%). “This result demonstrates the competitiveness of our companies and the ability of Made in Italy to continue to create value even in an exceptionally difficult phase”, Ceolini concludes. “Today more than ever, it is necessary to support businesses with measures that strengthen competitiveness, investment and employment, so that the sector can continue to represent a benchmark of excellence within the national manufacturing system”.
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