China and the US dominate the global trade in leather and leather products with China being the major exporter and the US as the leading importer. While India stands at the 9th place among the exporting countries in 2007.
Global trade in leather and leather products stood at $127.73-billion in 2007 while it was $90.80 billion in 2003, according to the data available from the Geneva-based International Trade Centre (ITC).
The data analysed by the Council for Leather Exports(CLE) shows that, in the global basket, India had a share of 2.44% at $2.22 billion in 2003. It increased to 2.72% to $3.7 billion in 2007. China continued to be way ahead. In 1993, it accounted for 21.19% of world export of leather and leather products with $19.24 billion. It increased to 24.60% in 2007 to $31.42 billion. The US was the top importing country with $21.15 billion in 2003. It increased to $25.86 billion in 2007.
In 2007, India was at the 9th position in the list of world exporting countries. Italy came next to China, followed by Hong Kong, France, Germany, Brazil, Belgium and Spain. However, India is the third largest producer of leather, after China and Italy. Over 50% of the leathers are consumed locally. The industry ranks 8th in the export trade in terms of foreign exchange earnings of the country. The US is the largest market for leather and leather products and it has been on the increase from $21.15 billion in 2003 to $25.86 billion in 2007. India?s share has been steady at 1.19% in 2003 and 2007.
About 66% ($79.31 billion) of the global import was footwear and components. India with export of $1.48 billion had 1.86% share in this. The US is the biggest importer of footwear, both leather and non-leather at $20.03 billion. Of the total import of footwear, leather footwear accounted for 59.74% at $47.39 billion. India?s contribution in this segment was $1.16 billion, 2.46%. In leather footwear the US is in the lead position with $12.37 billion. India ?s share was 1.06%. In non-leather footwear also the US was the major market with imports worth $7.66 billion. India?s share was just 0.03%.
Finished leather accounted for 17% of the global import with $22 billon. India?s export was $767 million, 3.49%. China was the leading importer of finished leather worth $4.34 billion. India had 1.11% share in this. Leather goods, including gloves accounted for 13% of the world trade at $15.97 billion. India?s exports was worth $ 784.95 million, 4.91% leather garments imports at $3.91 billion was 3% of global imports. India?s exports at $343.99 million was 8.78% of that. Saddlery and harness accounted for 1% global leather trade in 2007 at $2.06 billion. With $183.26 million Indian had 8.8% share in this.
Fourteen countries led by the US bought 75.76% of the $127.73 billion export of global leather. In 2007 US import was worth $25.86 billion. India had 1.19% share in this. Hong Kong came next to the US with $10.38 billion. India contributed 2.58%. With $9.47 billion Italy was the third importer and India had 5.06 % share in that.In all product segments, while the US topped the list of importing countries, China ranked number one among the exporting countries.
According to industry sources, there is a shift in sourcing of leather products from China to India. Companies like Wal-Mart are turning increasingly to India for better quality products. Because of the favourable labour laws, stable currency and other infrastructural advantages Indian industry could not compete with China on price front. But on quality Indian products have established themselves and the retailers are looking for Indian leather products.
