China’s leather goods exports increase in January
According to figures released by Chinese Customs officials, export volumes of key leather goods saw a slight increase in January 2005, compared with the same period in 2004.
Although exports of leather gloves decreased slightly to 69.5 million pairs ($62.3 million) and leather machinery exports fell to 2,000 pieces ($883,000), all other sectors reported an increase in exports. Leather shoe exports increased to 115.5 million pairs ($625.1 million), leather garments to 3.58 million pieces ($129.4 million), fur garments rose to 249 tons ($ 36.8 million) and semi-finished & finished leather reached 15,000 tons ($ 98.2 million).
As far as imports were concerned, semi-finished and finished leather continued to account for the largest proportion of goods imported into China, reaching 87,000 tons ($229 million), an increase of 41% in terms of volume and in terms of 34.6% value. Leather and hides alone accounted for some 85% of the total goods imported in the sector.
