Exports of leather and leather goods was $11.47 billion, a rise of 6.8% compared with the same period the year before, and accounted for 4.7% of China’s total exports.

Raw hide and leather exports showed the highest growth, increasing by 71.4% compared with 2000 to $830.5 million. The next biggest jump was for fur garments, up 28.1%, leather gloves, up 20.2% and leather garments 11.1%. Exports of leather shoes, however, decreased by 0.4%.

While exports rose, the rate of growth actually slowed by 14.4% compared with the same period a year earlier. The China Leather Industry Association blamed the slowing growth on the September 11 terrorist attacks on the US combined with a global economic slowdown.

In terms of markets for China’s leather and leather goods exports, the ten largest (excluding fur) for the period in question were Hong Kong (accounting for 58.8%), Italy (10.1%), South Korea (10.1%), Spain (5.0%), Taiwan (3.1%), Thailand (2.0%), Indonesia (2.0%), the US (1.6%) and Vietnam (1.0%).

Imports of hides rose by 8.2% to $2.8 billion between January and November 2001, compared with the same period in 2000. Imports of shoe components fell by 1% to $260 million and machinery for leather-making and footwear manufacturer fell 6.7% to $74 million. The most important exporters to China in the leather sector were South Korea (accounting for 26.7% in value), followed by Taiwan (16%), US (16%), Italy (10.9%), and Australia (6.1%).

Unit: $1,000