Agra footwear industry stares at losses due to coronavirus.

Every year, leather shoes worth over Rs 3,000 crore are exported to European countries from Agra. The US and several African countries are also important destinations for Agra footwear, say industry sources.

The outbreak of the deadly novel coronavirus (nCoV2019) in China has affected the footwear industry in Agra as supply of raw material from that country has stopped completely. Industry sources say raw material worth Rs 15 crore for manufacturing finished footwear is imported from different parts of China to Agra every month. Now, with the virus spreading fast, supply from China has dried up, affecting manufacturing here.

The virus is taking a toll in the economic front as well, shutting down businesses, curbing international travel and impacting production lines of major global businesses. In Agra, which is the largest footwear hub in India, the industry is adversely impacted as manufacturers imports several components such as laces, shoe lining, buckles, ornaments, insoles, outsoles, cellulose board, shank board, foam and packing material from China.

Talking to TOI, Puran Dawar, president of Agra Footwear Manufacturer and Exporters Chamber (AFMEC), said, “The spread of coronavirus has affected the shoe industry at a crucial time. January and February are peak months when manufacturing is done for exports during summer. Some of the shoe components are imported from China because these are not manufactured in India as it too expensive here.”

The footwear industry in Agra is renowned for leather products that it sells. Footwear alone accounts for 46% of the overall exports from leather industry. Agra has a share of 28% in the total footwear exports from the country and 65% of the domestic requirement.