The oil price rise and shipping disruptions caused by the Iran war have affected or will affect the SA footwear industry.According to business publication PRM Taiwan, “The Iran conflict is driving a 20–30% surge in plastic material prices, with packaging costs for industries like food and beverage expected to rise as much ...more

Durban, KZN, SA – The industry is very quiet at the moment. Customers tell me that the chains are holding back until after the elections, and that come June and July, there will be good orders. I certainly hope so.Something which disturbs me, and I’m not a shopper, is that the shoe areas in most apparel chains seem to be much ...more

Durban, KZN, SA - The price of imported synthetic upper materials is influenced not just by the exchange rate between the SA Rand and the Chinese Yuan Renminbi, but also between the US dollar and the Chinese currency, said Garth Ribbink of materials importer A. Greenaways (Natal).      “No-one is accept ...more

Durban, KZN, SA - "We're waiting for something to take off," said Garth Ribbink of synthetic upper materials supplier A. Greenaways (Natal). It's all dull. Summer is starting now but the build up has been slow."Durban, KZN, SA - Sales are still quiet, said Rowan Allison, who sells for Midland Leather. "A couple of the ...more

If local manufacturing is to grow, it must find a way of getting into this market ...more

Durban, KZN, SA - The cost of synthetic upper materials, which are currently all imported, mostly from China, has risen steeply this year, according to Garth Ribbink, member of A. Greenaways (Natal) (Pty) Ltd, one of the leading importers.He forwarded correspondence from suppliers in China.One wrote: "During [the past] one month, th ...more