Footwear in Russia - statistics & facts
Russia is one of the leading footwear markets globally. The market size of footwear in the country reached seven billion U.S. dollars in 2023, which was the 12th-largest figure worldwide. In terms of pairs sold, the volume of the footwear market, as well as the number of shoe pairs sold per capita, experienced a sharp decline in 2022 due to the exit of several major Western brands in response to the war in Ukraine. In total, 283 million pairs were estimated to be sold in the country in 2024.
In spite of the revenue decline due to the exit of major Western retailers, the Russian footwear market is still one of the largest. Among the factors driving the growth are continuous demand, price increases, as well as customer preferences for discounts and special offers.
Shoe retail and trade in Russia
Despite a clear preference for a traditional purchasing experience, footwear shoppers in Russia have been gradually adapting to online shopping. When looking at international trade dynamics of shoes in Russia, imports have always prevailed exports by value. A significant growth in footwear imports to Russia from 2016 was related to the ruble depreciation, which made national shoe production less profitable and imports of cheap footwear more cost-effective.Discounts drive Russian footwear purchases
Discounts and special offers play a crucial role in shaping Russian consumers' purchasing decisions when it comes to clothing and footwear. Over 60 percent of Russians considered the availability of discounts and special offers as the most important factor in choosing clothing and footwear brands. Discounts become particularly relevant given with the increasing average monthly spending on apparel and footwear in Russian households, which reached over 1,900 Russian rubles per month in 2023, representing a 12-percent growth from the previous year. For example, the average cost of men's suits stood at approximately 12,300 Russian rubles and women's leather boots with warm lining at around 9,000 Russian rubles.In spite of the revenue decline due to the exit of major Western retailers, the Russian footwear market is still one of the largest. Among the factors driving the growth are continuous demand, price increases, as well as customer preferences for discounts and special offers.
