India's Footwear Boom: Why EVA Is at the Heart of It

A Sector Getting Policy Tailwinds

India’s footwear and leather industry is getting a boost from recent policy changes in the Union Budget 2026–27. The government announced duty-free imports for inputs used in shoe uppers and extended export fulfillment timelines from six months to one year. These measures are designed to give manufacturers more flexibility in managing production and responding to international demand. The budget also maintains support for the Focus Product Scheme introduced last year, which aims to generate about 2.2 million jobs and increase exports beyond roughly $13 billion USD (₹1.1 lakh crore).

These aren't isolated gestures. They come at a moment when global footwear brands — including Nike, Adidas, Puma, and New Balance — are actively expanding manufacturing in India as part of their China+1 strategies. India's leather and footwear exports stood at $3.3 billion during April–December 2025, holding steady despite a 50% US tariff. With policy now aligned behind the sector's ambitions, the conditions for sustained growth are strengthening.

As Sachin Joseph, EVP at Paragon Footwear, stated in an interview with ETRetail, the measures will "significantly improve supply-chain efficiency, reduce operational bottlenecks, and ease compliance for manufacturers" — enabling better production planning and stronger responses to global demand.

EVA: The Material at the Core of Footwear Manufacturing

For those tracking EVA markets, India's footwear sector is the single largest end-use segment — and for good reason. EVA's combination of lightweight properties, cushioning ability, and moldability into varied shapes and densities makes it an ideal material across a wide range of footwear types: slippers, sports shoes, slip-on walking shoes, loafers, sneakers, and sandals.

EVA is used across two key manufacturing processes in footwear:

Injection molding: EVA can be used to manufacture entire sandals, loafers, and sneakers. Its ease of processing allows for customisation based on specific performance requirements. It has also taken over a substantial share of the SBR market in this application.

Foaming (EVA foam): Predominantly used in midsoles to deliver cushioning and support. Its lightweight nature is especially valued in athletic footwear, where even marginal weight savings translate to performance benefits.

Market Growth Drivers Run Deep

The demand outlook for EVA in India's footwear sector goes well beyond near-term policy support. Several structural forces are at work:

Rising disposable incomes and changing consumer lifestyles are driving footwear demand across income segments, from premium sports shoes in urban centres to affordable sandals and crocs in rural markets.

Rural market expansion is a particularly significant growth vector, with new-age sandal and casual footwear categories gaining traction in previously underpenetrated markets.

E-commerce growth is amplifying the reach of footwear brands and accelerating volume growth across all categories.

Government programmes including Make in India, Aatmanirbhar Bharat, and Startup India are encouraging new domestic investment and capacity expansion, supported by initiatives like the Indian Footwear and Leather Development Programme (IFLDP), which carries an allocation of approximately $200 million (₹1,700 crore).

Global brand entry from reputed trans-border manufacturers is bringing investment, technology upgrades, and higher production standards into India's footwear clusters.

In 2024, Relaxo Footwears Ltd. emerged as one of the major importers of EVA for the footwear segment, sourcing from Saudi Arabia, South Korea, the USA, and Thailand — reflecting the global nature of EVA supply chains serving this sector.

Watching the Competitive Landscape

One trend worth monitoring is the gradual emergence of thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) as an alternative to EVA foam in midsole applications. TPE is being positioned as a more eco-friendly option, with similar lightweight and durable properties. This reflects a broader shift in the footwear industry toward sustainable materials — a trend that could influence EVA's competitive dynamics in the coming years, even as overall demand continues to grow.

Understand the Full EVA Picture

Footwear is just one part of a broader EVA demand story in India. EVA also plays a critical role in packaging, hot melt adhesives, solar, and wire and cable sectors that are all expanding in parallel. For buyers and manufacturers looking to understand the full supply-demand landscape, pricing dynamics, and end-use segment breakdown, Townsend Solutions' LDPE/EVA market report provides the depth of analysis needed to make confident procurement and strategic decisions.

Interested in the full EVA picture? Get in touch with our team at customercare@townsendsolutions.com to learn more about our LDPE/EVA report and how it can support your market intelligence needs.

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