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, 2020 - 2024

Report Overview

The global  Industrial protective footwear market size was valued at USD 7.25 billion in 2019 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.9% from 2020 to 2024. 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.

Industrial Protective Footwear Market Trends

The industrial protective footwear market is driven by the implementation of workplace standards and stringent regulations across the globe, mandating a high standard of worker safety and health across industries, which is driving the global industrial protective footwear market.

The primary attributes of industrial safety footwear are comfort, innovation, safety, and aesthetic appeal. Over the years, major shoe manufacturers have worked to include these elements into their goods to increase worker comfort and job safety. To reduce occupational deaths and accidents, several sectors have been placing a significant demand on industrial protective shoes.

Favorable factors, including inexpensive labor, capital, and raw materials, as well as low-interest loans and tax breaks, have caused the shift of industrial production facilities from the North American and European growing economies to the Asia Pacific, particularly China. Additionally, the Chinese government is striving to move the manufacturing of footwear from coastal locations to inland territories while offering different incentives to the industry.

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.

Owing to increasing popularity and rising demand for premium branded footwear, this footwear has become the sole target for counterfeiting. For manufacturers of safety shoes, counterfeiting has become a concern. Such counterfeit footwear goods are sold illegally, which costs the brand owner money. A brand's equity is also seriously harmed by the subpar design and construction of such counterfeit footwear. Customers are believed to link lower quality with the brand if they are uninformed of the fraudulent goods, which is expected to impede market expansion.

With a view to limiting imports and domestic manufacture of subpar goods, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has released quality control criteria for various leather footwear, including anti-riot shoes. The quality control order for footwear composed entirely of rubber and polymeric materials, as well as its parts, has also been made public by DPIIT. Products like industrial and protective rubber knee and ankle boots, PVC sandals, and rubber microcellular sheets, among others, will drive the market for industrial protective footwear.

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 characterized byoccupational safety standards and compliance with stiff regulations that mandate the usage of safety shoes in the work environment., which is anticipated to contribute to the product demand for industrial protective equipment. In addition, huge costs associated with non-compliance with industry safety standards are forcing employers to adopt industrial protective footwear. This is expected to augment product market demand over the forecast period.

The growing demand for safety shoes in North America 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.

Increasing the adoption of health and safety practices to reduce workplace fatalities is 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.

Key Companies & 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.

Industrial Protective Footwear Market Report Scope

Global Industrial Protective Footwear Market Segmentation

This report forecasts revenue and volume growth at global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2014 to 2024. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global cool roof coatings market report on the basis of product, application, and region.

Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2012 - 2024)

• Leather Footwear

• Waterproof Footwear

• Rubber Footwear

• Plastic Footwear

Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2012 - 2024)

• Construction

• Manufacturing

• Mining

• Oil and gas

• Chemicals

• Food

• Pharmaceuticals

• Transportation

Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2012 - 2024)

• North America

• Europe

• Asia Pacific

• RoW