Leather industry in Tuscany defies the economic crisis
07/03/2016
It has described the industry in Tuscany as being made up of “a galaxy of small and medium-sized tanneries and footwear and leathergoods manufacturers” and has calculated that since 2008, almost 400 of those small companies have ceased trading, with the loss of an estimated 800 jobs.
However, IRES said export figures show that the industry is stable, putting the total for 2014 at around €4.25 billion on a par with the figure for 2011.
One IRES researcher, Enrico Fabbri, went further, saying figures he and his colleagues are able to put on the amount of added value the leather industry in Tuscany creates show impressive growth “in the middle of the financial crisis”. He said the figure for added value in 2009 was just under €1.3 billion, whereas the corresponding figure for 2012 was over €2 billion.
He also said figures showing the amount of investment of company owners are impressive, putting the total for 2008 at €205 million and that for 2010 considerably lower at €147 million. By 2014, that figure had bounced back and grown to €255 million. Mr Fabbri says most of this investment has gone into preserving the skills of the workforce in the Tuscan industry.
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