In an environment where the pandemic has not yet shown signs of its definitive retirement from the world, situations arise that modify the organization and operation of the international footwear industry, with direct effects in different countries.
Firstly, the consequences suffered by the Asian industrial centers were notable, in terms of the decrease in their productivity. This led to shortages and price increases in raw materials and finished products, boosted by a logistics and transportation crisis that altered the supply to important footwear consumer markets, such as the United States.
This situation triggered the search for alternative suppliers, which is confirmed by the growth of Brazilian and Mexican exports and from other non-traditional points.
The relocation of supply and production sources, plus the problem of availability and costs of raw materials, also influence manufacturing activity, creating new opportunities for industries in countries with greater autonomy.
Although uncertainty persists due to the evolution of the health crisis, it is also known that the consumer market has restarted a reactivation stage, and its evolution is related to the prevailing conditions in each area or country.
In this context, the footwear industry in Latin America must plan effective attention to its domestic markets, according to new consumer habits, and build an export strategy based on its characteristics and potential.
The goal will be to enter a globalized market, where a strong process of diversification is advancing on the great concentrating centers of world production, to give rise to the entry of new players.
The Editor
