In its annual prognostic report on the footwear industry, entitled ‘2012 Annual Footwear Sourcing Forecast’, Footwear Distributors and the Retailers Association of America (FDRA), said that Nicaragua is a "rising star" that has great potential to increase shoe exports to the U.S.

According to the 2012 forecast, U.S. footwear imports from China accounted for 85.3 percent of all U.S. footwear imports in 2011, the lowest market percentage in seven years. . The U.S. should thus seek to restructure its sourcing strategies and options due to China's increasing prices, shortages in labor and increased compliance costs, and "keep an eye on Cambodia, Bangladesh and Nicaragua," reported Fibre2fashion.com.

Imports into the U.S. will continue to grow from US$22.7 billion in 2011 to US$25.2 billion by 2016, which gives room for emerging sources, such as Nicaragua, to substantially increase its exports into the country.

The International Forum "Nicaragua, The Right Step" will take place on 13th and 14th June in Managua.

Source: fibre2fashion.com

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