Industrial Protective Footwear Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Leather, PVC, Rubber) By Application (Construction, Manufacturing, Mining, Oil & Gas, Chemicals), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2012 - 2024

Industry Insights

The global industrial protective footwear market size was estimated at USD 8.02 billion in 2015 and is expected to register a CAGR of 6.9% over the forecast period. Increasing awareness regarding stringent regulations and mandating elevated standards of worker and workplace safety across organizations are anticipated to drive the growth. Rising concerns and awareness regarding workplace safety is anticipated to further drive the growth.

Favorable conditions such as low-cost labor, capital, and raw materials as well as low-interest loans and tax incentives, have resulted in the shifting of industrial production facilities from the developing economies of North America and Europe to Asia Pacific, especially China. Moreover, the Chinese government is providing footwear manufacturers with various incentives and is working to shift the footwear production sites from the coastal regions to internal territories. 

The Europe industrial protective footwear market is expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period on account of the widespread presence of safety shoe manufacturers in the region. Implementation of standards and compliance with stringent regulations mandating the use of safety shoes at the workplace is anticipated to drive the regional product demand over the forecast period.

The market includes products designed to enhance occupational safety in industries. The demand for such products is primarily high in various industries encompassing a high rate of occupational fatalities, such as manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, oil and gas, construction, transportation, and chemical industries.

An emerging trend in the industry is the use of lighter composite materials for manufacturing shoes. Key manufacturers are working on the development of materials and products that incorporate protection, comfort, and style, all in the same footwear. These developments in the industry are envisioned to persuade both men and women to use proper shoes at workplace.

A large number of local manufacturers engage in producing cheap safety shoes by using spurious and low-quality materials, which has resulted in augmenting the sale of low-quality, inexpensive products. Key premium brands are facing strong competition, owing to the rising adoption of these inexpensive shoes, which, in turn, is anticipated to challenge the market growth over the forecast period.

Product Insights

Products analyzed in the report include leather, rubber, PVC, polyurethane, and other types of footwear. Leather boots and shoes held the leading market share in 2015 and is expected to maintain the dominance over the forecast period. Leather is a non-conductive material, and is, thus, significantly used in protective footwear to offer safety against hazardous electric shocks.

Comfort, innovation, safety, and aesthetic value are the key characteristics of industrial safety footwear. Over the years, the global shoe manufacturers have been striving to integrate these features into their products to offer improved workplace safety as well as provide comfort to workers. Industrial protective shoes have been facing substantial demand from various industries to avoid fatalities and accidents in the workplace.

The market for rubber boots and shoes is expected to expand at a CAGR of 7.5% over the forecast period. An emerging trend in the industry is the use of bright-colored rubber material for manufacturing safety shoes. Rubber safety shoes are water resistant, lightweight, and can be easily cleaned, thereby making them a preferred option across several industry verticals.

The PVC protective footwear market is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 7.7% in Asia Pacific owing to stringent norms enforced by the regulatory agencies on employers to ensure worker safety. In addition, technological innovation and changing consumer needs for protective equipment that combines protection with fashion and attractiveness are estimated to augment market growth.

Application Insights

Construction is anticipated to emerge as the leading segment over the forecast period. It accounted for close to 18% of the overall market share in 2015. The growth can be attributed to an increase in the number of fatal accidents that have driven the increase in the adoption of safety shoes among builders to enhance worker safety.

Manufacturing application was valued at close to USD 1.92 billion in 2015 and is presumed to expand at a significant CAGR in the forthcoming years. The growth can be attributed to the intensive use of flammable liquids, considerable fire hazards, and the widespread use of assembling machines and presses in the manufacturing industries, which increases the risk of accidents at workplace.

Oil and gas application segment is expected to witness a CAGR of close to 6.8% from 2016 to 2024, on account of the presence of hazardous and corrosive workplace environment. The product provides protection against contact with oil spills, explosive substances, and other chemicals, thereby boosting the demand from the oil and gas industry.

Industrial protective footwear is used in the mining industry to protect employees from leg injuries caused due to electric shocks, falling objects, and chemical spill as well as to prevent the workers from incidents including slip, trip and fall, cutting hazards, punctures, and fatigue. Steel-toed boots are the most widely used protective footwear owing to the frequent occurrence of situations such as moshing. 

Regional Insights

Europe is anticipated to emerge as a predominant region over the forecast period. The regional growth is largely driven by the introduction of occupational safety standards and compliance with stiff regulations that mandate the usage of safety shoes in the work environment. The region encompasses a large presence of such manufacturers in various countries.

North America accounted for over 28% of the overall market share in 2015 and is envisioned to witness a considerable CAGR over the forecast period. Growing demand for safety shoes can be attributed to the growth of niche markets coupled with stringent legislation in the U.S. In addition, the region encompasses an increasing demand for women's safety shoes, which, in turn, is anticipated to fuel the growth.

In Central and South America, the growth of the oil and gas industry is anticipated to augment the demand for industrial protective footwear over the forecast period. In addition, rising investments in healthcare, defense, and agriculture industries are expected to play a vital role in economic growth of various countries such as Chile and Colombia, thereby contributing significantly to the product demand.

Asia Pacific is estimated to witness a substantial CAGR of over 7.5% from 2016 to 2024. The increasing adoption of health and safety practices to reduce workplace fatalities, are expected to propel the regional product demand over the forecast period. The growing construction industry in China and India is presumed to drive the market in near future.

Industrial Protective Footwear Market Share Insights

Major market players engage in developing lightweight composites to minimize the discomfort, such as heaviness and difficulty walking, associated with traditional PVC. The demand for protective footwear in a hazardous work environment has witnessed significant growth on account of the paradigm shift towards worker safety instead of maximizing profits in the production facilities, resulting in market growth.

Key companies in the industry include Dunlop Boots, Honeywell Safety Products, JAL Group, Uvex Safety Group, Rock Fall, VF Corporation, Wolverine, Anbu Safety, and Hewats Edinburgh. Manufacturers are increasingly working on the development of low-cost, comfortable, static-dissipative, slip-resistant, lightweight, and durable safety shoes.

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