U.S. companies are showing increased interest in footwear made in Mexico, according to the Chamber of the Footwear Industry of the State of Guanajuato, known as CICEG.
The organization’s president, Juan Carlos Cashat Usabiaga, said Mexican footwear exports rose 16% during the first quarter of the year. He added that the United States accounts for roughly 85% of the industry’s international shipments.
According to Cashat, Mexico’s proximity to the U.S., lower transportation costs and the trade framework provided by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement have strengthened the position of domestic manufacturers. Footwear that meets the agreement’s rules of origin can enter the U.S. market duty-free.
He also said higher fuel and freight costs linked to tensions in the Middle East have made it more expensive to ship goods from Asia. As a result, some companies are considering suppliers closer to the U.S. and looking to diversify their supply chains.
Industry representatives view these conditions as an opportunity to increase Mexico’s share of the U.S. footwear market. About 10% of the country’s total footwear production is currently exported to the United States, according to Cashat.
In Guanajuato, the broader fashion industry includes approximately 6,000 businesses and supports more than 150,000 jobs, based on figures provided by the business group.
Source: Forbes México
