The value of footwear imports to the US in the first quarter of 2015 increased 8.5% to $6.7 billion, with China accounting for $4.4 billion, or 80 percent of the total, according to analysis by the China Leather Industry Association (CLIA).
Total volume of US footwear imports grew 8.7% to 713.1 million pairs. China contributed 570.1 million pairs, 6.9% more than the country imported to the US in first quarter 2014.
Vietnam, boosted by athletic and outdoor brands relocating their Chinese manufacturing facilities to the country, saw a 19.6% increase in volume and 22.9% increase in value. In total, the country imported 78.2 million pairs valued at $982.2 million in first quarter 2015.
CLIA reported strong growth in exports to the US from Cambodia, India, Bangladesh, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. Meanwhile, Italy, Mexico, Brazil, Ethiopia and Thailand recorded declines.