Of the exports from the sector of miscellaneous manufactures, those that grew the most in 2017 were paper and cardboard products, leather products and those made by the chemical industry.
Last year products from the miscellaneous manufactures sector had as their main destination the Central American market (57%), mainly Honduras and El Salvador.This was followed by the United States (12%), Mexico (4%) and the Dominican Republic (3%).
In the first nine months of the year $15.9 million worth of footwear was exported, which is 26% more than in 2013.
The sector's competitiveness in terms of labor costs, incentives to industry, preferential access to key markets and strategic location of the country, are the main factors attributed to the growth in exports of Nicaraguan footwear.
The Investment Promotion Agency of Nicaragua, told Elnuevodiario.com.ni that "...
As part of the controls to combat smuggling, between May and July 29 companies were suspended from the list of importers, which represents 60% of the total volume of pairs of shoes entering the country.
In order to detect and prevent irregularities in the import of footwear, the General Administration of Federal Tax Audit Tax Administration Service of Mexico carried out 31 audits "...
The country wants to take advantage of the tariff preferences it has to export shoes to the United States and the European Union so as to attract foreign investment to the sector and turn it into an export platform.
From a statement by Pro Nicaragua:
All footwear manufactured in Nicaragua has duty free access to the United States, the European Union and other important markets.
The company Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America sees great potential in Nicaragua for increasing their footwear exports to the U.S. market.
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.