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As sustainable fashion evolves from a slogan into a mainstream demand, and rational consumption takes the place of blind pursuit of new products, the pre-owned footwear industry has broken free from the old stereotype of a niche low-end market. Maintaining an average annual growth rate of 10.8%, it has emerged as a key growth driver in the global apparel and footwear sector. Driven by rising global demand, shifting domestic consumption habits, environmental awareness and digital innovation, the pre-owned footwear market stands out as a promising blue ocean for the circular economy, a new trend in consumption upgrading, and a valuable business opportunity.

The global second-hand shoe industry has entered a brand-new era. Driven by social media trends, changing consumer mindsets and the rise of circular economy, this market is expanding rapidly across every continent. Gone are the days when second-hand shoes were seen as cheap low-end goods. Today, it has become a high-margin business favored by wholesalers and retailers worldwide.

The Iquique Free Trade Zone (ZOFRI) in Chile, with its unique duty-free policies and strategic position as a South American hub, is becoming a key node in the global second-hand branded shoe trade. Against the backdrop of the global second-hand sneaker market expanding at a compound annual growth rate of nearly 20%, the Iquique Free Trade Zone provides a unique trade channel for second-hand branded shoes to enter the Chilean domestic market as well as neighboring countries such as Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina. This article systematically analyzes the trade potential of second-hand branded shoes in the Iquique Free Trade Zone from three dimensions—distribution channels, profit margins, and market bottlenecks—and provides strategic recommendations for relevant traders.