According to figures released by the China Leather Industry Association (CLIA), the export volumes of key leather goods increased by 18.2% to $2.67 billion in February and imports rose by 4.7% to $669.2 million compared with the same period in 2004.
Exports of leather shoes increased 16.4% to 202.9 million pairs, leather glove exports rose 56%, and fur garments decreased 20.7%, exports of leather garments fell 0.6% to 5.79 million suits ($222.8 million), leather machinery fell by 0.8% to 3000 units ($2 million), while leather and hides decreased by 6.1% to 27000 tons ($171.4 million).
The import of leather and hide increased further in February due to a supply shortage in the country. In February, the import volume of leather and hides reached $568.9 million, an increase of 2.4% on the same period last year.
