Clear improvement in the third quarter (-0.9% turnover) compared to the first half of the year Credits: FashionUnited, image generated with AI The Italian footwear industry demonstrated increased resilience in the third quarter of 2025, according to the latest data from the Confindustria Moda Research Centre for the Italian footwear manufacturers' association (Assocalzaturifici). While revenues for the first nine months fell 4.1 percent year-over-year (YoY), the third quarter saw turnover decline by only 0.9 percent, marking a significant stabilization compared to the sharp contractions earlier this year. Export performance remains the primary driver for the sector, which is heavily reliant on international trade. Export volumes grew 4.3 percent to 131.8 million pairs during the first eight months, even as total export value dipped 1.3 percent to 7.72 billion euros. This volume recovery coincides with a 5.3 percent reduction in average prices to 58.58 euros per pair, signaling a normalization following the price surges of the 2022/2023 period. Giovanna Ceolini Credits: Confindustria Accessori Moda Final 2025 projections indicate a sector turnover of approximately 409 million euros less than the previous year, a contraction of 3.1 percent. This result is significantly less severe than the end of 2024. European Union and Middle East drive export growth The European Union (EU) remains the most critical market for Italian footwear, accounting for seven out of 10 exported pairs. The region saw a 2.2 percent increase in value and a 7.6 percent rise in volume. Germany performed notably well, with value up 6 percent and…