While this represented an 11% year-on-year increase, overall growth rates have, however, declined with every month, the association said.

At subindustry level, leather shoe manufacturers reported around $46.7 billion (¥301.44 billion) in revenue for the period, a 10% increase on the previous year, while leather luggage companies posted combined revenues of approximately $8.9 billion (¥57.85 billion) – an almost 9.5% increase year on year.

Significantly, tanneries saw sales of $8.5 billion (¥55.2 billion), surging by nearly 21% on the comparative period in 2020.

Finally, leather apparel enterprises witnessed around $3.8 billion (¥24.3 billion) in reported sales revenues on the previous year, up 9%.