Europe’s footwear and leather goods sectors both recorded broad declines in the first half of 2026 with Italy, Germany and most major European producers posting negative results across both categories according to the latest Market Insights Report by Lineapelle.
The brief recovery seen in Italy’s footwear sector at the start of 2026 has already faded with the first half of the year showing a new contraction. Other major European footwear producers also recorded declines continuing a weak trend seen across the sector for several consecutive quarters.
Outside Europe footwear performance was also broadly negative across major Asian producers TUrkiye and South America. Mexico was the exception recording growth during the period.
Now when we look at Italy’s leather goods sector it also continued to face difficulties seen at the end of 2025 and into the first half of 2026. According to the report, the wider EU leather goods sector remained under pressure with most major European producers recording declines.
France was an exception with its leather goods sector growing 4% during the period. Outside the EU, leather goods performance was also broadly weak while Pakistan recorded growth.
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In accessories and components, the EU sector average declined 2% in the first half of 2026. Italy and France were among the main contributors to the decline despite a slight improvement in the second quarter.
Metal findings performed better while other accessories and footwear components recorded double digit declines at EU level.
