Tunisia’s leather and footwear sector recorded a positive performance in 2024, with exports covering 163.9% of imports and total exports reaching 2,182.1 million dinars.
According to data published by the Export Promotion Centre (CEPEX) following the sixth sector-based meeting dedicated to leather and footwear, Italy remains the leading destination for Tunisian shoe exports (valued at 1,018 million dinars), followed by Germany, France and Slovakia.
As for other leather products, France ranks first among export markets, ahead of Italy and Germany.
Participants in the meeting, focused on planning the sector’s participation in international events in 2026, recommended strengthening digital marketing around the “Made in Tunisia” label to enhance the visibility of Tunisian products abroad.
The leather and footwear sector employs nearly 28,700 people and includes around 200 companies, of which 184 are fully export-oriented.
The tanning subsector includes 10 companies, footwear manufacturing 135, leather goods 45 and leather clothing 10.
CEPEX regularly organizes a series of sector-based meetings through a participatory approach aimed at strengthening Tunisia’s position in international markets.
The latest meeting was attended by several industry professionals, representatives of the National Federation of Leather and Footwear, the National Center for Leather and Footwear, the Tunisian Company for Foreign Trade Insurance (COTUNACE) and representatives of the banking sector, according to a CEPEX press release.
New regulations for leather sector
New procedures governing the leather and related products sector, aimed at organizing the industry and protecting consumer health and safety, have been implemented.
These measures were published in Government Decree No. 571 of 2020, dated August 7, 2020, concerning footwear and similar items, along with a decision issued by the Ministers of Industry and Trade and published in the Official Gazette.
The text defines the basic requirements that footwear and similar product manufacturers must meet before placing or displaying their products on the market.
These provisions introduce new obligations related to labeling, physical and mechanical characteristics and chemical composition, all intended to ensure consumer health and safety and to guarantee high-quality footwear.
The leather and footwear industry represents 4% of Tunisia’s manufacturing output, with a turnover estimated at 2,000 million dinars.
Around 72% of companies operating in the sector are fully export-oriented and total sector exports are estimated at 1,260 million dinars.
It is worth noting that Italy imports footwear from countries such as China, France and other European nations, in addition to Tunisia.
Although Italy itself is a major exporter of high-quality footwear, its imports are driven by domestic demand and the need to complement its own production.
