According to local media, the last six years have seen a drop of nearly 29% in Bangladesh leather trade while leather footwear exports have risen a dramatic 761%. The report quotes data from the Export Promotion Bureau of Bangladesh which shows in fiscal year 2011-2012, the country's crust and finished leather export was $230 million, but has since fallen to $164 million. In the same period, leather footwear and goods export rose from $99 million to $855 million. 

The issue — which industry experts have attributed in part to issues with environmental compliance — was discussed at a press conference for LeatherTech Bangladesh 2019. Saiful Islam, president of Leather Goods and Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, was quoted saying there’s a reluctance to buy products from non-compliance industries and that this issue was damaging the leather industries in Bangladesh. 

As reported, there was also discussion of Hazaribagh, a former tannery estate of Bangladesh, which the government recently moved to the outskirts of Dhaka. Mr Saiful said the leather industrial park will achieve the Leather Working Group (LWG) certification by 2020, and that once the new estate gets international approval, the tanned leather industry will get back on track.

The event for which the press conference was held, Leathertech 2019, will be held 31 October to 2 November at International Convention City in Bashundhara, Dhaka. More than 250 exhibitors from around the world will gather to showcase and discuss leather, machinery, components, chemicals, accessories and allied products. 

Image: Leathertech Bangladesh