German footwear industry: slight increase in exports but US tariffs cause concern

According to the report by the Federal Association of the German Footwear and Leather Goods Industry (HDS/L), in the first six months of 2025, sales by German footwear manufacturers rose from €1.15 billion to €1.16 billion compared to the same period last year, representing a 1.3% increase in turnover.

At €924 million, domestic sales rose by 5.1% compared to the first half of 2024, while foreign sales fell from €272 million to €242 million, corresponding to a decline of 11.0%. Footwear producer prices rose by 1.2% in the first half of 2025 compared to the first half of 2024.

In the first five months of 2025, 159.8 million pairs of shoes were exported from Germany, with a total value of €4.4 billion. Compared to the first half of 2024, this represents a 4.0% increase in the number of pairs exported. The value of footwear exports rose by 2.6%, from €4.3 billion to €4.4 billion. The average price of an exported shoe was €27.83 in the first five months of 2025.

Looking at footwear imports, from January to May 2025, these increased by 17.2% compared to the same period last year. In the first five months of 2025, 331.2 million pairs of shoes were imported into Germany. The value of imports rose from 4.7 to 5.6 billion euro, an increase of 18.8%. The average price of an imported shoe rose by 1.4%, from 16.77 to 17.01 euro.

Outlook

Despite the current instability and uncertainty and low consumer confidence in Germany, there are positive signs of change for the sector in the coming months, with fast-growing product segments such as barefoot shoes offering new opportunities for retailers and companies. In foreign trade, the political agreement on free trade between the EU and Indonesia will open up new market opportunities in the medium term and improve access to important supply and sales markets. Nevertheless, US customs policy and the new protectionist measures introduced by the Trump administration are hampering sales and significantly delaying the processing of deliveries.

Furthermore, geopolitical developments, such as those in the US market, as well as the ongoing war in Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East, are creating a general climate of uncertainty and instability, with the footwear sector also being severely affected. However, foreign trade can provide a positive boost and, from a global perspective, urbanisation, rising disposable income and the expansion of digital retail trade offer new opportunities for the German footwear industry.