During the period April to August 2005, India imported $108.89 million worth of raw hides, skins and finished leather - an increase of 10.71% compared with the $98.35 million imported in the corresponding period in 2004.
According to a breakdown of the statistics, released by Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry, during the period India imported raw hides and skins worth $25.39 million compared with $18 million in the same period in 2004, a rise of 41.05%. Leather imports grew 3.91% to $83.49 million from $80.35 million in April-August 2004. However, in terms of value, the total imports of raw hides, skins and leather only increased by 6.28% to Rs4.74 billion compared with Rs4.66 billion in the corresponding period last year.
Meanwhile, during the same period, the Indian leather sector registered export growth of 5.81% to $1,031.79 million from $975.10 million in the corresponding period last year.
The United Kingdom was the largest importer of leather footwear from India, importing $62.52 million worth of footwear, followed by Germany at $55.39 million; USA at $41.09 million; Italy at $30.91 million and France at $18.82. Total footwear exports reached $288.22 million, an increase of 22.15% from the April-August period in 2004.
Hong Kong was the largest importer of finished leather. It imported $95 million out of the total $236.55 million of finished leather exported. Italy, China and Germany also imported finished leather worth $29.62 million, $14.93 million and $13.27 million respectively during same period. However, on the whole, India recorded a decrease of 6.93% in exports of finished leather during this period from $254.17 million in April-August 2004.
According to a breakdown of the figures, footwear component exports increased 7.81% to $75.4 million from $69.94 million, leather goods by 9.83% to
$248.24 million from $226.02 million and saddlery and harnesses fell by 16.02% to $27.54 million from $23.74 million in the same period in 2004. However, exports of leather garments fell by 6.47% to $130.24 million and non-leather footwear decreased by 1.69% to $25.61 million.
