The Indian Council for Leather Exports (CLE) has said it expects the country’s leather manufacture value to double to $8 billion by 2010.  The association predicted that exports will climb to $4 billion, increasing India’s share in world leather trade from 2.5% to 4%.

Industry statistics show that the Indian leather industry is currently worth $4 billion, producing 18 million square feet of leather and earning $2 billion in exports each year.

According to the Indian Finished Leather Manufacturers and Exporters Association, the country is home to over 21% of the world’s cattle and buffalo and 11% of the sheep and goat population. This and the fact the country is the source of over 10% of global leather requirement and has a liberal import policy on raw hides, makes India a major tanning centre.

The Indian Government has earmarked Rs4 billion ($88 million) for the leather industry – this would generate a total investment of Rs20 billion ($441.9 million), the CLE said. Future plans include the modernisation and upgrade of manufacturing and infrastructure facilities, as well as the opening of footwear component parks in Ambur and Agra, a leather park in Andhra Pradesh and a leather goods complex in Kolkata.

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