S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol. 12 No. 15, April 13 2026

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Trading Conditions

Higher quality opportunities in a constrained market

Shannon Proctor, MD, BLP Rubber & Plastic Supplies (Pty) Ltd
Cato Ridge, KZN, SA – Business at the moment remains resilient, but it is operating within a highly volatile and fast-changing environment. The key factors affecting the market are ongoing geopolitical tensions, which are driving uncertainty in global supply chains, alongside upward pressure on input costs such as synthetic and natural rubber, energy, and freight. Locally, inflationary pressures, energy costs, and a constrained manufacturing environment continue to challenge margins.
     From a challenges perspective, pricing pressure remains significant, particularly in export markets where competition is intensifying. At the same time, customers are becoming more cost-sensitive, which places additional strain on maintaining margins while ensuring consistent quality and supply.
     That said, there are clear opportunities. Companies with strong balance sheets, robust procurement strategies, and reliable production capabilities are well-positioned to gain market share. We are also seeing increased demand for higher-quality, performance-driven products, particularly in export markets, which plays to our strengths.
     Looking ahead, the outlook for the year is cautiously optimistic. While volatility is expected to persist, we anticipate steady demand supported by infrastructure development in key markets and continued export growth. Businesses that remain agile, cost-disciplined, and focused on innovation will be best placed to navigate the year successfully.

The Iran War

U.S. shoe prices continue to rise in March as war adds fuel to the fire

From Footwear News
Retail footwear prices rose 2.4% in March, higher than 8 of the last 9 months and the fastest in 40 months, FN reported, quoting Footwear Distributors & Retailers of America (FDRA). It said women’s footwear jumped 3.2%, men’s 1.4%, and children’s 2.4%. FDRA chief economist Gary Raines said there were 3 main factors:
     “Footwear prices are up not only as overall inflation rose and the average landed duty-paid cost per pair of footwear climbed again, but also as year-to-date footwear spending is up while year-to-date footwear imports are down—that is, footwear demand is growing while supply is shrinking so far this year,” Raines said. “In fact, the divergence between year-to-date footwear spending and imports is on track to be one of the widest annual divergences on record, hinting at higher sustained prices for footwear.”

They Said It

“NULAW always buys locally manufactured products and supports the buy local campaign. Our service provider mixed up locally manufactured members’ T-shirts with imported ones. We have taken this up with our service provider.” - Ashley Benjamin, general secretary, National Union of Leather & Allied Workers (NULAW), after the photos above were circulated on WhatsApp.

Got anything you'd like to share?

Do you have any suggestions, comments or experiences about the industry that you'd like to share with the industry? - tony@svmag.co.za

New subscribers last week

Hashmook Naran, Chairman, Tika Shoes, Zimbabwe

Birthdays this week

13/04/1970: Jason Wilkins, agent/retailer, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
13/04/1973: Pieter Mulder, Julian Thom Outfitters & Sport cc, Phalaborwa, Limpopo, SA.
13/04/1976: Gareth Kemp, Apollo Brands, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
14/04/1946: Pierre Lailvaux, formerly Service Agencies (closed), Durban, KZN, SA.
14/04/1955: Bharatlal Ranchod, Ramjee's Shoe Store, Klerksdorp, NW Province, SA.
15/04/1928: Des Scott, retired, founder, Scotts (closed), Durban, KZN, SA.
15/04/1971: Jacques Ergas, Red Planet Shoes, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
16/04/1952: Russell Lochner, agent, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
16/04/1954: Lynn Sukool, Devan's Footwear Agency, Durban, KZN, SA.
17/04/1948: William James Mail, formerly Norton Wellworth Agencies, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
17/04/1957: Colin Battle, agent, Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
17/04/1971: Newald Groenewald, Le Croc Tannery, Brits, N.W. Province, SA.
17/04/1992: Rakesh Morar, Modway Shoes, Pietermaritzburg, KZN, SA.
18/04/1976: Neelan Parumaul, Melton Adhesives, New Germany, KZN, SA.
18/04/1989: Pratiksha Pema, Modern Tailors & Outfitters, Pretoria, Gauteng, SA.
19/04/1946: Mike Pengelly, Trailmix Trading, Durban, KZN, SA.
19/04/1972: Kamlesh Govin, Durburg Clothing (Pty) Ltd, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
19/04/2000: Abdul Kader Kader, Kaytex Belts, Pretoria, Gauteng, SA.

In memoriam this week

13/04/2014: Theuns JK Viljoen (b. 25/12/1942), Divac (closed), George, W. Cape, SA.
13/04/2022: Walter Kurth (b. 11/05/1951), formerly Corbeau, Cape Town, W Cape, SA.
14/04/2015: Neville Horwitz (b. 25/11/1932), agent, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
16/04/2016: Barrie Walsh (b. 19/03/1949), Eddels Shoes, Pietermaritzburg, KZN, SA.
16/04/2023: Shelagh Davy (b. 18/02/1943), formerly editor of Leather International, St Leonard's-on-Sea, East Sussex, UK.
17/04/2021: Mike Peterkin (b. 30/08/1945), agent, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
18/04/2020: Val Barnes (b. 13/02/1943), retired to the UK, formerly Edcon, Durban, KZN, SA.
19/04/2019: Raymond Manuel (b. 12/06/1963), Kronies (closed), Villani, Barker, Bolton Footwear, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.

Have you let us know about your birthday, or the birthdays of your colleagues? Our readers love this section, so please become part of it. This also applies to the In Memoriam section. Help us remember former colleagues.

Directory entries updated last week

Durburg Clothing (Pty) Ltd, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
Rawat Uniforms, Durban, KZN, SA.

Fairs & events updated last week – see calendar for details

18-20 May 2026: Brazilian Footwear, São Paulo, Brazil.

3. Malawian Kwacha (MWK) (buying)

Source: https://www.rbm.mw/

4. Zambian Kwacha (ZMW) (buying)

Source: https://www.boz.zm/

5. Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG)

Source: Source: https://www.rbz.co.zw/

Note: For previous rates, see HERE

ABSA Agri Trends: Hides & skins prices

Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA (27 March 2026) - The current average hide price remained R2.257/kg. The current price is 2,19% lower than the average price a month ago and was 19,3% lower than the average price a year ago. The range of prices reported was as follows: Minimum price: R2.00 Maximum price: R2.74. Please note: Our methodology weighs the prices we collect according to the number of hides they sell in a month. This is done to make it more representative of the prevailing market price. NB* Hide prices are determined by the average of the RMAA (Red Meat Abattoir Association) and independent companies. - Marlene Louw, senior agricultural economist, Nkhensani Mashimbyi, agricultural economist, and Zama Sangweni, agricultural economist, ABSA group.

Note: For previous prices, see HERE

Have a look at these links

We invite businesses to send us links to websites, Facebook pages and the like which they feel would be of interest to others. The links below are from our database:

Jay’s Outfitters, Randfontein, Gauteng, SA. Men’s outfitter.
JB Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana. Athleisue retailer.

THIS WEEK LAST YEAR!

International footwear and accessories fair for Durban in July

Tariffs

Trading conditions

Mytheresa to acquire YOOX NET-A-PORTER from Richemont

READ IT HERE - S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.11 No.15, April 14 2025

THIS WEEK FIVE YEARS AGO!!

Urban Angel: Rents the biggest problem

Welbourne Shoes: Men's trade hit harder by bad times

Footwear consumption 'recovering'

Crocs US 'cutting links with some retailers'

READ IT HERE - S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.7 No.15, April 12 2021

NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE

All the past S&V Weekly Newsletters from January 2016 onwards are available in the newsletter archive.
VIEW THE ARCHIVE - CLICK HERE

Contact us

News & Classifieds: Tony Dickson, +27 (0)31 209 7505, tony@svmag.co.za

Next newsletter: Monday 20 April, 2026. Ad and editorial deadline Friday 17 April 2026.

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