The Turkish Footwear Components Manufacturers Association (AYSAD) has evaluated the 2025 year-end figures released by the Istanbul Leather and Leather Products Exporters’ Association (IDMIB). AYSAD Chairman Sait Salıcı highlighted the sector’s resilience in export unit prices and stressed that increasing Türkiye’s share in global markets will require a stronger focus on high technology and value-added production.
According to IDMIB data covering the January–December 2025 period, Türkiye’s exports of footwear components reached USD 39.5 million, representing a 3.4% decline in value compared to the previous year. Export volume fell more sharply, decreasing by 14.5% to 4.7 thousand tons. During the same period, the sector’s average export unit price stood at USD 8.4 per kilogram.
“The resilience of our unit price is encouraging”
Commenting on the 2025 performance, Salıcı underlined that the limited decline in export value despite a significant drop in volume reflects the sector’s ability to maintain product quality:
“2025 was a period when shifts in global supply chains and market contractions were strongly felt. Although our export volume declined notably by 14.5%, the fact that the loss in value remained limited to 3.4% shows that our sector has preserved its ability to produce qualified products. Our unit price of USD 8.4 per kilogram is one of the clearest indicators of our transition from standard manufacturing to value-added production.”
Boosting Türkiye’s share in global markets
Salıcı also pointed to the scale of the global footwear components market and the need for Türkiye to increase its competitiveness. Citing 2024 global import figures, he noted that the market size is around USD 9 billion, while Türkiye currently holds only a 0.5% share:
“Türkiye’s 0.5% share of such a large market indicates that we are still far from our potential. Our main goal is to increase this ratio through design and technology. Rather than competing on price, we must take a more active role in global markets with differentiated and innovative component solutions.”
Export growth in Azerbaijan and Romania
In terms of market performance by country, Salıcı highlighted strong growth in Azerbaijan and Romania. While Algeria maintained its position as Türkiye’s largest market, exports to Azerbaijan increased by 106% to USD 1.6 million, and exports to Romania also reached USD 1.6 million. On the other hand, the 16.9% contraction in exports to the European Union, the sector’s largest market group, signals the need for a more aggressive and innovative marketing strategy.
Key figures for 2025
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Export Value: USD 39.5 million (-3.4%)
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Export Volume: 4.7 thousand tons (-14.5%)
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Unit Price: USD 8.4/kg
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Global Market Share: 0.5%
