Finding the Right Market for Indian Footwear

A footwear manufacturer producing leather office shoes has different customers from a business making sports shoes or everyday sandals. That difference matters when planning exports: a large market is only useful when its buyers need the products a supplier can deliver.

India's footwear industry includes leather and non-leather products, giving manufacturers several routes to explore international demand.

What Do India's Footwear Exports Reveal?

In FY 2024–25, India's leather footwear exports reached approximately US$1.78 billion, while non-leather footwear exports were around US$459.7 million, according to India Exim Bank's research based on ITC Trade Map figures.

Within non-leather footwear, products with rubber or plastic outer soles and uppers accounted for a significant share of exports. This highlights why manufacturers should research the exact footwear category rather than treat every shoe type as one market.

Source: India Exim Bank — Unlocking India's Non-Leather Footwear Exports

Which Overseas Markets Should Businesses Explore?

The United States was India's leading destination for non-leather footwear in FY 2024–25, receiving approximately US$80.8 million. The UAE followed with about US$46.5 million, according to the same India Exim Bank report.

These figures refer to non-leather footwear, not all footwear exports. Other destinations may be relevant depending on whether a manufacturer specialises in leather shoes, sports footwear, sandals or footwear components.

How Can Manufacturers Identify Suitable Buyers?

Before contacting overseas customers, footwear businesses should investigate:

• Buyer type: Importers, retail chains, footwear wholesalers, distributors or private-label brands.

• Product requirements: Materials, sizes, design, quality standards and packaging.

• Competition: Existing suppliers, price positioning and the products already popular in the target market.

• Import conditions: Applicable duties, labelling rules and product compliance requirements.

Use the relevant HS code to compare trade activity for a particular footwear category. India's official TradeStat portal allows users to research exports by commodity and country.

Welexo helps businesses research global markets, explore buyer and seller information, compare competitors and study trade trends. This can help footwear manufacturers build a more focused list of potential customers instead of approaching unrelated businesses.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which countries buy Indian footwear?

The destinations vary by footwear type. In FY 2024–25, the United States and UAE were leading destinations for India's non-leather footwear exports.

2. What types of footwear can Indian businesses export?

Products include leather formal shoes, casual footwear, sandals, sports shoes and other non-leather footwear, depending on the manufacturer's capabilities and applicable requirements.

3. How can footwear exporters find overseas buyers?

Research importing markets, identify relevant distributors and retailers, compare competing suppliers and verify that prospective buyers handle the same product category.

4. Why is HS code research important?

Footwear classifications distinguish products by characteristics such as materials and construction. Using the right code helps businesses compare relevant trade figures rather than unrelated categories.

The best export plan starts with a clear product, a defined customer and evidence that the target market fits both. Visit Welexo to explore international market research and potential business connections.