Wet blue exporters to India have reported that they received an encouraging number of enquires at the 21st India International Leather Fair (IILF) 2006, held in Chennai, India. They said that they see no hurdles to supplying commodities to India but came out in support of the demands of the Council for Leather Exports (CLE) that the Indian leather Industry should be given a similar status to the textile industry and expressed hope that prices would rise. They added that a large number of Indian buyers visited their stands at the show, and that they received many orders for samples.

Italian wet blue supplier- A.G.G Leather Srls; said that it wanted to increase its market share in India. Mr. Giampaolo Benetti, sales manager, told www.leatherbiz.com that it succeeded in penetrating the Indian market last year and is supplying three containers per month from its tannery based in Ukraine.

Imad ElSheikh, general manager of HibaTan Leather Industries Co. Ltd of Sudan commented that the African company now supplies six containers of goat and sheep skins per year which reach India in 22 days from leaving its tannery.

Other wet blue and crust suppliers that exhibited at the show were M/s Alganoub Tanning Factory of Saudi Arab; Argolanda B.V; Dermatech International Ltd of UK; Noble Exports of Chennai; Slavutich Ltd of Ukraine and Unionpelli-EuropHide of Italy.

In the period April to March 2004-05, India imported raw hides and skins worth $47.15 million and leather worth $205.84 million compared with $49.8 million and $171 million respectively in the corresponding period a year earlier.