Colombia consumes 110 million pairs of shoes per year. However, its annual production capacity is only ten million pairs, of which three million pairs are exported.
Despite a huge imbalance between domestic consumption and local manufacturing, the South American country is seeking to increase its exports, as its shoemakers must compete with a surge of imports from Asia and smuggling operations managed by criminal organizations. It is estimated that at least half of the shoes sold in Colombia are either smuggled or produced illegally in the country.
For more details, read the full story at our sister publication Shoe Intelligence.
Photo: © Flavia Carpio on Unsplash
