“For us, the cost of sole production has jumped by 15 per cent since the war began, largely due to increasing input costs. Footwear production across the country is feeling the pinch of the petrochemical supply crunch in the backdrop of the West Asia crisis. “The cost of soles, which make up nearly 40% of a finished shoe, has risen by up to 30% due to petrochemical shortages. Peshawri said that the input cost has gone up by 10-40 per cent on items ranging from fabric to plastic, and this is complicating negotiations with buyers. Overall, the input cost has risen by nearly 15%,” Gupta said.

Source: Indian Express April 07, 2026 05:26 UTC