Trade Barriers Emerge In An Endless Stream, Restricting Zhejiang'S Shoe Export Growth

　　進入2010年，浙江省鞋出口繼續保持良好的增長勢頭，雖然受春節因素影響，3月份單月出口量同比再次為負，但這在整體上不會改變去年年底以來浙江省鞋出口止跌回升的態勢。同時，歐美市場消費能力的回升為浙江鞋出口的后續增長提供了動力。據美國商務部數據顯示，3月份美國商品零售額環比上漲1.6%，為連續第三個月出現增長，顯示美國經濟發展仍向好。

Exports in March turned negative year-on-year, according to Hangzhou customs statistics. In the first quarter of this year, Zhejiang province accumulated 318 million pairs of export shoes, worth 1 billion 90 million US dollars, up 30.9% and 25.3% respectively over the same period last year, and the export average price decreased by 4.3% per 3.4 US dollars.

Monthly export volume is negative again, and export average price has reached a new low in one year.

In March, Zhejiang exported 69 million pairs of shoes, down 20.5% compared with the same period last year. The monthly export growth rate was negative again after 8 consecutive months. The export average price was 3.15 US dollars per pair, down 2.5% from the same period last year, and the monthly export price was the lowest since 2009.

More than 90% are exported in general trade mode.

In the first quarter, Zhejiang exported 305 million pairs of shoes in general trade mode, an increase of 31.2%, accounting for 95.9% of the total export volume of shoes in the same period, and 11 million pairs of processing trade exports, an increase of 31.8%, accounting for 3.5%.

Private enterprises are the main force of export and the growth is obvious.

In the first quarter, Zhejiang's private enterprises exported 203 million pairs of shoes, an increase of 40.2%, accounting for 63.8% of the total export volume of shoes in the same period. The export of 65 million pairs of state-owned enterprises increased by 29.4%, accounting for 20.4%; foreign-invested enterprises exported 34 million pairs, up 2.9%, accounting for 10.7%; and the export of 15 million pairs of collective enterprises increased by 6.5%, accounting for 6.5%.

The export market is more dispersed, and the EU is still the largest market for shoes exports in Zhejiang.

In the first quarter, Zhejiang province exported 101 million pairs of shoes to the EU, an increase of 21.5%, accounting for 31.8% of the total exports of shoes in the same period; 48 million pairs of exports to Africa, an increase of 34%, accounting for 15.1%; exports to the United States, 30 million pairs, 34.1%, 9.4%; exports to Latin America 17 million, 22.3% 22.3%, accounting for 22.3%; exports to Russia were double, growth accounted for.

Shoes or shoes made of rubber or plastic are mainly exported.

In the first quarter, Zhejiang province exported 221 million pairs of shoes and boots made of rubber or plastic shoes, an increase of 31%, accounting for 6..5% of the total export volume of shoes in the same period; 66 million pairs of shoes and boots for the export of textile materials made up of shoes, an increase of 35.5%, accounting for 20.8%.

　　　出口制約因素猶存值得注意的是，未來浙江省鞋出口仍面臨多重制約因素：

Raw material prices continue to rise, squeezing the profit margins of enterprises.

Since mid February this year, the global economic recovery has been improving and other factors. The demand for oil has risen, and the oil price in the international market has been rising continuously. After March, it has basically maintained over $80 a barrel, and the closing price of WTI crude oil futures in April 6th is us $86.84, reaching the highest level in nearly a year and a half.

The rise in oil prices has led to a new round of rising prices of bulk commodities, including the main raw materials, while the export prices of shoes are difficult to be improved due to limited international market capacity and increasingly fierce competition.

Trade barriers emerge in an endless stream, which restricts the growth of Zhejiang's shoe exports.

In December 22, 2009, the EU decided to extend anti-dumping duties on Chinese leather shoes for 15 months.

A few days ago, the European Court of first instance rejected the lawsuit filed by Chinese shoe manufacturers jointly, and supported the European Commission to continue to impose anti-dumping duties on footwear products from China and Vietnam.

The EU is the main market of shoes export in Zhejiang province. The export of Zhejiang's exports to the EU increased by 21.5% over the first quarter, but the increase was the last in the main export market of Zhejiang province.

The strong rise of foreign trade protectionism has seriously restricted the export of footwear products in Zhejiang.

Product grade is low and lack of marketing network support.

At present, footwear production in Zhejiang is still dominated by OEM, and export products are mainly concentrated in low-end products, and price advantage is still the main competitive means.

Although some large shoe companies are committed to building their own brands, China's footwear industry is still at the end of the international industrial chain as a whole, and it lacks control over the intermediate links of the footwear market in the international market. The establishment of the retail links is still in its initial stage, which leads to the fact that enterprises can not pfer the price of raw materials to importers in time.

In the international market, raw material prices rose sharply, the average price of shoes exports in Zhejiang has declined, which has increased the operating pressure of enterprises to a large extent.

To this end, experts recommend that enterprises should encourage and guide enterprises to upgrade their grades and quality of export products, and strengthen the development of large shoe enterprises with independent brands and independent innovation capability, enhance their competitiveness, give full play to the role of trade associations in organizing and coordinating, standardize export order, avoid the risk of trade friction caused by low price bidding activities, increase the development of emerging markets, guide enterprises to diversify their exports, and avoid excessive concentration of the market to trigger trade frictions.