China’s leather goods industry continues to climb
According to the China Leather Industry Association (CLIA), during January-September 2003, the country’s exports and imports of leather goods increased slightly, to $12.02 billion and $3.18 billion respectively.
Exports of leather footwear increased 37.4% to 78 million pairs (worth $3.98 billion). The average export price for footwear is currently $5.30, compared with an import cost of $25.30.
Hide exports rose 18.65% to 178,000 tonnes ($861 million), however leather garments declined 62.6% to 52 million pieces ($1.73 billion). Exports of leather gloves totalled 70.2 million ($1.1 billion) and leather garments amounted to 52 million pieces ($1.73 billion).
According to figures from Urumchi Customs, between January-October 2003, exports of leather garments from northwest
