China footwear exports in the first five months of 2012 grew by 4% in volume to 4.14 billion pairs and by 8.6% in value to $15.5 billion compared to the same period a year ago.

Over the period, retailers and distributors imported 21.7 million pairs of shoes into China, with a value of $600 million, growth of 35.9% and 38.3% respectively in volume and value.

Average price per pair for exported shoes over the five-month period was $3.74, while the corresponding value of the shoes coming into China was much higher at an average of $27.65, more than seven times more expensive.