Elx. World Footwear Capital

Elx. World Footwear Capital

The footwear manufacturing industry and that of its component parts have undeniably been the city’s economic motor for decades with over 2,100 production and sales centres. Indeed, these centres constitute 12% of the city’s 12,400 registered businesses.

Within Spain, Elx is an important player in the footwear industry. Its 1,100–plus companies in this sector make up 42% of all such companies in Spain, employing over 18,000 highly qualified workers.

Production is commercialised both in the domestic market and abroad. The sector’s enterprising spirit has led it to export to, and have an important presence in, markets such as those in the European Union, the United States and other emerging markets, thus diversifying distribution. Alicante’s exports index is one of the highest in Spain, thanks in great part to Elx’s footwear sector.

The companies in this sector are constantly improving their competitiveness in international markets. At present, they are using new strategies based on brands, design, fashion, quality, research, respect for the environment, new technologies and high standards of service.

As footwear production has grown, so have those companies supplying component parts, raw materials and accessories. This industry has a higher level of territorial concentration since over 75% of the Spanish companies working in this sector are to be found within Elx’s city limits and supply both Spanish and, as its increasing export figures show, international markets with high-quality products of unbeatable design.