International trade
Italian shoes are famous worldwide. Indeed, Italy exports a large amount of shoes, accounting for a value of over eight billion euros. Figures show that the export value of Italian shoes has been growing in recent years, even if the export volume decreased slightly. Leather shoes account for the highest value with an export of over 6 billion euros in 2019. In fact, the Italian leather industry represents another outstanding sector for the country: Italy is the main exporter of leather goods in the world. In terms of value, Italy heads the ranking, followed by the United States and Brazil.Also, Italy ranks among the main global footwear importers in terms of volume. In 2019, the estimated value of shoe imports added up to over five billion euros. Chronological data show that the imports have been growing in both value and volume. Italy mainly imports from Europe and Asia. The most valuable shoes come from Switzerland: on average, a pair of Swiss shoes is imported for 126 euros.