This list reveals the top 10 footwear importers based on their percentage of global import purchases (shown within parenthesis). In 2017, world footwear imports totaled US$134.9 billion.
African Importers
Africa imported $3.7 billion worth of footwear led by the following countries:
1. South Africa: $857.6 million
2. Angola: $241.5 million
3. Ghana: $236.2 million
4. Tanzania: $217.2 million
5. Algeria: $215.5 million
6. Morocco: $199.9 million
7. Tunisia: $150.2 million
8. Djibouti: $120.6 million
9. Ethiopia: $112.9 million
10. Cameroon: $101.5 million
Asian Importers
Asia imported $23.1 billion worth of footwear led by the following countries:
1. Japan: $5.3 billion
2. China: $3.7 billion
3. Hong Kong: $3.4 billion
4. South Korea: $2.8 billion
5. Vietnam: $1.6 billion
6. Taiwan: $734 million
7. Singapore: $720.3 million
8. Turkey: $676.2 million
9. Malaysia: $627.7 million
10. Indonesia: $558.2 million
European Union (EU) Importers
European Union imported $59.8 billion worth of footwear led by the following EU members:
1. Germany: $12.5 billion
2. France: $7.9 billion
3. United Kingdom: $6.8 billion
4. Italy: $6.3 billion
5. Netherlands: $4.6 billion
6. Belgium: $4.5 billion
7. Spain: $3.5 billion
8. Poland: $1.9 billion
9. Austria: $1.8 billion
10. Czech Republic: $1.2 billion
Latin American and Caribbean Importers
Latin America (excluding Mexico) and the Caribbean imported $4.8 billion worth of footwear led by the following countries:
1. Chile: $1.2 billion
2. Argentina: $644.6 million
3. Panama: $481.4 million
4. Peru: $417.6 million
5. Brazil: $381 million
6. Colombia: $355.3 million
7. Guatemala: $165.3 million
8. Costa Rica: $142 million
9. Ecuador: $136.7 million
10. Bolivia: $134.8 million
Middle Eastern Importers
Middle East imported $4.2 billion worth of footwear led by the following countries:
1. United Arab Emirates: $1.4 billion
2. Saudi Arabia: $751.5 million
3. Israel: $537.1 million
4. Iraq: $436.3 million
5. Kuwait: $269.7 million
6. Iran: $178.9 million
7. Lebanon: $124.1 million
8. Yemen: $110.3 million
9. Qatar: $107.8 million
10. Jordan: $79.9 million
North American Importers
North America imported $30.2 billion worth of footwear led by the following countries:
1. United States: $26.6 billion
2. Canada: $2.5 billion
3. Mexico: $1.1 billion
Oceanian Importers
Oceania imported $2 billion worth of footwear led by the following countries:
1. Australia: $1.7 billion
2. New Zealand: $284.2 million
3. Papua New Guinea: $33 million
4. New Caledonia: $9.9 million
5. Fiji: $9.7 million
6. French Polynesia: $5.9 million
7. Solomon Islands: $2.9 million
8. Northern Mariana Is: $2 million
9. Vanuatu: $1.2 million
10. Samoa: $1.1 million
To see the 25 fastest-growing footwear importers from 2013 to 2017, use the slidebar on the accompanying list. Overall, the 5-year percentage gain for globally imported footwear was 8.4%.
Data source: Trade Map, International Trade Centre, www.intracen.org/marketanalysis
Top Footwear Importers 2017
Fastest-Growing Footwear Import Countries
Research Note: Import numbers rarely match the source exporters’ stats. Reasons for import-export statistical discrepancies include re-exports, time lags, misallocations, distinct trade reporting systems, different quantity measurements and country confidentiality rules. Also, transportation and insurance costs are sometimes added to import totals.
