We are constantly reassessing our strategies

The further Tech fund contribution holiday which came into effect at the start of 2024 continues to limit our ability to do more for our members as we must be prudent with operational expenditure. This continues to create some uncertainty in our ability to meet our matching grant requirements which we require to meet our various deliverables. For a second year we have our members to thank for continuing to diligently pay their memberships and enabling our business model.

For the year under review total footwear exports to the rest of the world, excluding BELN, showed a volume drop of 15.5%. Exports into BELN showed a volume increase, but the figure is under investigation.

Belts and handbags were down in volume by 1.1% for the rest of the world and down 11.5% to BELN markets. This trend is of particular concern as the SACU block has traditionally been a strong market base for our manufacturers and efforts will be needed to regain lost market share.

Our leather category saw a significant increase in leathers exported to the rest of the world which showed a double-digit growth of 17.4% in volumes. Our BELN numbers went the other way showing a continued downward trajectory with a negative 43% in leather exports into the SACU trading block. This is mainly attributed to the continued decline of manufacturing within these markets.

The stats are very telling of the state of our leather Industries and the macroeconomic environment we are operating in which calls for a urgent need to reassess our market access strategies as well as critical evaluation of member participation in the various outward selling missions and pavilions to ensure we have the right calibre of participants that can convert the opportunity into meaningful sales. Footwear continues to be a focal point for us as an association and concerted efforts are needed to boost exports in this category.