Mexican shoe manufacturers see their export quota to the United States increase while they observe that in the domestic market there are more and more shoes imported irregularly. Industry authorities estimate that some 47 million pairs from China entered under-invoiced, writes CueroAmérica.

According to data published by the Chamber of the Footwear Industry of the State of Guanajuato (CICEG), footwear exports increased by 16.8% in 2022 compared to the previous year. In volume, 34 million pairs were sold abroad compared to the 29 million exported in 2021.

In contrast, footwear imports from China grew by 30.6%. A third of these products entered the country illegally. In a recent press conference, Mauricio Battaglia, president of CICEG, declared that “we were able to export 34 million pairs, which represented 16% growth.

In any case –said the leader- we are concerned about the deficit we register between what we import and what we export. We have mentioned on several occasions that we need a level floor to compete because of the 126 million pairs that we import, 47 million enter presumed undervaluation conditions, which represents a great blow to the national industry and the collection at the federal level.

This claim that Battaglia makes is not new. During the inauguration of the 88th Leather and Footwear Show, the leader asked for the help of the federal government to combat piracy and informality. “We have always said it, we are not afraid of competition, but it must be on equal terms. To date we have not been able to balance the unfair competition that Asian footwear represents” he pointed out on that occasion.