The Turkish footwear industry is navigating a phase where unit value growth and quantitative contraction occur concurrently during the January–May period of 2026. According to foreign trade ratios announced by IDMIB, footwear exports, which stood at 357,7 million dollars in the first five months of last year, declined by 12.1 percent to 314.4 million dollars in the same period of this year.
The most severe contraction in export performance was recorded in terms of volume. The total export volume, which was 86,571 tons in the first five months of last year, dropped to 56,331 tons with a 34.9 percent decrease this year. In contrast to this shrinkage in order sizes, the unit value per kilogram exhibited a robust upward trend. The export value per kilogram, which was 4.13 dollars in the first five months of 2025, rose by 35.1 percent to reach 5.58 dollars. Industry analysts attribute this acceleration in unit values to the transition from low-priced, high-volume production structures toward value-added segments, alongside recent operational engagements with global sourcing groups such as Salvatore Ferragamo, Overland, and Nesto Group.
Demand Contraction Across Key Markets Accelerated in May
When isolating May data, the weakening in demand metrics appears to have gathered pace. The export revenue, which stood at 60.2 million dollars in May 2025, decreased by 21.6 percent to 47.2 million dollars in May 2026. During this period, the quantitative loss reached 42 percent, dropping from 16,696 tons to 9,689 tons. Conversely, the export value per kilogram climbed from 3.60 dollars to 4.87 dollars year-on-year in May.
Period (Footwear Exports) | Export Value (Million $) | Export Volume (Tons) | Export Value per Kg ($) |
Jan-May 2025 | 357.7 | 86,571 | 4.13 |
Jan-May 2026 | 314.4 | 56,331 | 5.58 |
Change (%) | -12.1% | -34.9% | +35.1% |
An analysis of regional market breakdowns indicates that heavy losses in primary export destinations like Iraq and Germany dragged down overall performance. In the first five months, exports to Iraq fell by 32.3 percent to 28.3 million dollars, while exports to Germany declined by 22.9 percent to 21.3 million dollars. On the other hand, the Italian market grew by 2.5 percent to 17.8 million dollars, and France rose by 4.1 percent to 11.8 million dollars. The Polish market contracted by 21.8 percent in value during the first five months, receding to 14.4 million dollars.
Foreign Trade Balance Deteriorates in Favor of Imports
TURKSTAT General Trade System (GTS) metrics reveal that the trade deficit in the footwear industry has become persistent. Footwear imports, which stood at 962 million dollars in 2022, peaked at a historic high of 1.71 billion dollars in 2024, shifting the industry into a net importer position. This imbalance continued into 2025, with imports stalling at 1.68 billion dollars against exports of just over 1 billion dollars, resulting in an annual trade deficit of approximately 670 million dollars.
A slight cooling signal in imports was observed during the January–April period (first four months) of 2026. Import volume decreased by 18.9 percent compared to the same period last year, dropping from 625.4 million dollars to 507 million dollars. However, exports also fell by 14.3 percent to 338 million dollars during the same timeframe, preventing the import slowdown from generating a structural recovery. Sector reports highlight that the cost advantages of Far East-sourced goods, rising input costs within the domestic manufacturing industry, and resilient import demand despite additional customs tariff adjustments remain the primary factors squeezing local producers' pricing and competitiveness matrices.
