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The Footwear Industry is a significant segment of the Leather Industry in India. India ranks second among the footwear producing countries next to China. The industry is labour intensive and is concentrated in the small and cottage industry sectors. While leather shoes and uppers are concentrated in large scale units, the sandals and chappals are produced in the household and cottage sector. India produces more of gents’ footwear while the world’s major production is in ladies footwear. In the case of chappals and sandals, use of non-leather material is prevalent in the domestic market.

The major production centers India are Chennai, Ranipet, Ambur in Tamil Nadu, , Mumbai in Maharastra, Kanpur in U.P. , Jalandhar in Punjab, Agra and Delhi. 

The following table indicates concentration of units in various parts of the country:

The estimated annual footwear production capacity in 1999 is nearly 1736 million pairs (776 million pairs of leather footwear and 960 million pairs of non-leather footwear). 

Region-wise share of total estimated capacities is as follows:

Shoes manufactured in India wear brand names like Florsheim, Gabor, Clarks, Salamander and St. Micheal’s. As part of its effort to play a lead role in the global trade, the Indian leather industry is focusing on key deliverables of innovative design, consistently superior quality and unfailing delivery schedules.

India in itself has a huge domestic market, which is largely untapped.

The Indian footwear industry is provided with institutional infrastructure support through premier institutions like Central Leather Research Institute, Chennai, Footwear Design & Development Institute, Noida, National Institute of Fashion Technology, New Delhi, etc in the areas of technological development, design and product development and human resource development.

The availability of abundant raw material base, large domestic market and the opportunity to cater to world markets makes India an attractive destination for technology and investments.

IMPORT
In 1999, the global import of footwear (leather and non-leather) in terms of value was around US$ 43278 million, accounting a share of 63.42% in the total global import of leather and leather products. Out of this, import of leather footwear alone accounted for US$ 26379 million and non-leather footwear US$ 16899 million.

EXPORT
India’s export of Leather Footwear touched US$ 331 million in 1999-2000, recording an increase of 3.29% over the preceding year. India thus holds a share of 1.25% in the global import of leather footwear. The major markets for Indian Leather Footwear are the U.K., the U.S.A., Germany, Italy, France and Russia. Nearly 71% of India ‘s export of Leather Footwear is to Germany, the U.S.A., the U.K and Italy.

In 1999-2000, export of leather footwear from India constituted 21% share of its total export of leather and leather products. Nearly 33 million pairs of various types of leather footwear were exported during the year, out of which shoes / boots constituted 90%.

The different types of leather footwear exported from India are dress shoes, casuals, moccasins, sport shoes, horrachies, sandals, beallerinas, booties.

Export of leather footwear during the last three years :

Export projections for the next two years:

Following leading institutes in India are engaged in imparting training to personnel in the footwear manufacturing as per the requirement of the trade and industry.

The CLRI and the FDDI are also equipped to carry out most of the tests for footwear manufacturing and issue certificates.

Source:
Secretariat For Industrial Assistance
Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion
Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Govt. of India
Udyog Bhawan, New Delhi - 110 011
SIA Website : http://indmin.nic.in

10.02.2002