For the Italian shoe, said Siro Badon (Assocalzaturifici) commenting on the 2021 data, Japan is a bit of a disappointment, reports La Conceria. Of course, two premises must be made. The first: that of the liberalization of the Japanese market is a progressive mechanism on a ten-year scale, which started only in 2019. We are only at the beginning. The second: the last two years, in particular, have not even been so normal for the market. In short, the pandemic has complicated plans. The fact is, however, that although JLIA (the Japanese association of leather and leather products) communicates growing data for imports, Italian actors are left with a bit of a bitterness in the mouth.

Data from JLIA
Let’s start from the Japanese point of view. According to JLIA, we said, in the first 11 months of 2021 the import of accessories registered + 21% on an annual basis. At the same time, that of finished leathers of all types registered + 75%. In reporting the data, Leatherbiz does not add a qualitative comment to the percentage change. The impression, however, is that more than the effects of liberalization, in this case there is a positive rebound on the pandemic.

The Italian product
The data processed by the Confindustria Moda Study Center for Assocalzaturifici, meanwhile, say that Japan is the 14th outlet market for Italian shoes. In 2021, the foreign turnover was 141.1 million euros: -7.3% on an annual basis and -24% on 2019. It is clear in this sense why Badon speaks of the Japanese market in these terms: “A little a delusion”. It looks better on the bag. As reported by Assopellettieri, Japan is the sixth market: exports (400.8 million) mark + 30% in value over 2020 and + 9.8% over 2019.

And for the skin?
The EU-Japan free trade agreement does not seem to have significantly affected the export of Italian finished leathers. As calculated by the Economic Service of UNIC – Italian Tanneries, in the last five years the foreign turnover in Japan has been on average equal to 19.6 million. In the first 10 months of 2021, the trend shows growth of 18% on an annual basis.