Bangladesh’s export promotion bureau claims higher demand from China has boosted the country’s finished and crust leather exports.

Between July 2009 and April 2010, finished and crust leather exports rose 16% to $175 million compared with $151 million during the prior-year period.

Finished and crust leather exports declined each month for the 16 months ending in February, when they started to pick up. According to the bureau, exports for the financial year 2008-09 totalled $177.3 million compared with $284 million a year earlier.

Although demand for crust and finished level also fell during this period, the country’s exporters have managed to find new markets, primarily China, for their product. Other important markets for Bangladeshi finished and crust leather exporters are the US, Italy, Germany, Japan and Korea.