Despite SARS and economic uncertainty in the EU,  Pakistan’s leather industry still managed to exceed its export target for the full year 2003/03.  For the 12 months ended June 30 2003, the figure was $695 million, 3.42% above target.  In announcing the figures earlier this week, chairman of the Pakistan Tanners Association, S. M. Naseem, explained that although finished leather exports were down by 2%, leather gloves, leather footwear and ‘Other leather goods’ exports were all up, by 11 percent, 51 percent and 82 percent respectively.

But on a cautionary note, Mr Naseem said he would be asking Federal Bureau of Statistics and EBP whether "Other Leather Manufactures" included leather garments.  If it did, then this would likely explain the 82% rise shown, not additional sales which he considered had been flat year-on-year, at $332 million. There had also been an appreciable drop in shoe leather orders from the EU, Japan and Korea, he noted.

The chairman went on to say that the the 2% decline seen in finished exports would likely have been worse had it not been for the extra effort put into marketing and new product development activities by the tanners.   To further assist them in their efforts, and help them meet government export targets, he called on the government to ensure that no delays were experienced in processing their tax refunds.

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