The Colombian footwear industry enjoyed a good year in 2022. Latest figures available reveal that, between January and October, production grew 20%, but the increase in costs and the lack of personnel are problems to be solved in 2023. Colombian footwear manufacturers are estimated to have closed 2022 with a production of 50 million pairs. As of October, shoe manufacturing grew 20.4% compared to the same period of the previous year. Report by CueroAmérica.

The increase in production was reflected in the level of exports which, in the first ten months of the year, increased by 40.2%, reaching US$34.1 million compared to US$24.3 million in 2021.

Likewise, imports also had a high increase. In the January / September period, 24 million pairs were imported for a value of US$355.2 million, marking an increase of 42.7% compared to US$248.9 million in the previous period. In this case, it is Brazilian products that are occupying a growing portion of the Colombian market.

The Colombian government has decided to extend the validity of Decree 2279 that established a 35% tariff for footwear imports, which expired on December 31, for an additional three years until the end of 2025. This measure will limit cheap imports from Asia and maintain the competitiveness of local footwear in the domestic market.